The Fighting Illini never recovered from an early run by Michigan women's basketball, and although the Wolverines full-court pressure slowed them down, they were well prepared for it and managed to safely get the ball across the half-court line. But by the time they set up their offense, the shot clock and Michigan’s ball pressure forced them into taking hurried shots. On the offensive side, sophomore Syla Swords, returning from her injury, sank a 3 only a minute into the game and finished with 11. The scoring was balanced with Olson’s 21 leading the way, sophomores Mila Holloway and Te’Yala Delfosse in double figures with 13 and 15, and junior Ashley Sofilkanich with nine, senior Brooke Quarles Daniels with eight, and sophomore Kendall Dudley also with eight.
Here are some observations on the latest win by the 15-2 Michigan women's basketball team, and what's ahead.
How Olson put out the fire
Olson logged her usual 30+ minutes, and Barnes Arico looked to periodically rest her. One of those times was at 7:05 in the third period, and for the one minute and 50 seconds she wasn’t in, Illinois managed to make it a two-possession game, 52-47.
In her first involvement, Olson helps pressure the ball and forces Illinois freshman Cearah Parchment into a hurried fadeaway from the free throw line with seven seconds left on the shot clock. The long rebound falls to Dudley, who takes it coast to coast for a layup. Illinois comes up empty again and Olson grabs the rebound, passes to Sword, who gives it back to her. Olson is all alone on the 3 point-line and sinks an in-rhythm shot. 56-47. Fire extinguished.
“This is the player that is the run stopper!” said the B1G Network analyst, Genesis Bryant. “Illinois tried to get back in it, but hello! You gotta find my girl Olson in transition!”
Flowers to Mila Hollaway
There’s a soccer term that describes what Holloway does for the team. "Run your socks off" means trying very hard for the team by covering a great deal of distance and expending maximum effort during a game. Against Illinois, she pressured the ball all the way up the court and into the Michigan end.
“We always try to set the tone and just allow that to carry us throughout the game,” she said. “Just getting up and defending 94 feet, trying to force quick turnovers and just get on the board any way we can.”
Pressure, transition, and shot volume is Michigan’s identity, and it’s Holloway who embodies it, heart and soul. In soccer, “run your socks off” is said in admiration, usually describing someone who battles despite not being as skilled or talented. Michigan’s lack of size may ultimately be their Achilles Heel, but it has players who work very hard together. No one embodies that more than Mila Holloway.
Danger ahead
Michigan has a tough conference schedule after defeating #25 Illinois. Seven future opponents are currently ranked in the AP Top-25: #3 UCLA, #11 Iowa, #12 Maryland, #14 Ohio State, #15 Michigan State, and #24 Nebraska. Good teams can lose in January and still excel in March at the B1G and NCAA tournaments. But a couple losses can increase the margin for error and affect tournament seeding–there are strong teams to avoid at all costs.