The top-10 showdown for Michigan women's basketball versus UCLA was a measuring stick game where Michigan could gauge itself against the No. 2 team in the country. The game was tight throughout, with the final score of 69-66. Add this to the close losses to No. 1 UConn and No. 7 Vanderbilt, and it’s safe to conclude that Michigan can run with the big dogs.
Tale of the tape
UCLA is the opposite of Michigan in terms of height and experience. Their guards are between 5’ 10” and 6’ 0”, and forwards are 6’ 4”, with All-American senior Lauren Betts measuring in at 6’ 7”. Michigan’s guards are 5’7” to 6’0”, and the front-line tops out with 6’3” Ashley Sofilkanich. UCLA starts two seniors and three grad students, with their main sub being another grad student. Michigan’s main rotation consists of five sophomores, a junior, and a senior. But these factors reinforce the conclusion that the Michigan women's basketball team can play with the UCLAs and UConns, and that their aggressiveness, decisiveness, and energy mean that their opponents will know they were in a 40-minute fight.
Tale of the stats
Michigan is not a good shooting team, averaging 39% (45% is considered good), so shooting below their average (36%) made it more difficult to stay with UCLA, who shot 46%. Predictably, UCLA was +14 points in the paint, but Michigan was only -3 in rebound margin. As a matter of fact, Michigan was ahead in the “hustle” stats: +11 in second chance points, +7 in fast break points, +4 in turnovers, and +2 in steals. It is safe to say that Michigan lost the game by poor field goal shooting, but their free throw shooting was also problematic by shooting 69% to UCLA’s 80%.
Tale of the sophomores
Michigan has relied on its sophomores all year, and in this one sophomore trio Oliva Olson, Mila Holloway, and Syla Swords played 35 minutes or more. Olson had 20 points, followed by Holloway with 15. Swords was hounded to 3-13 shooting for 23% for 10 pts. Te’Yala Delfosse was third highest scorer with 10. Although Kendall Dudley could only chip in with 4 pts in her 17 minutes of playing time, she battled mightily against her old teammates. The superb sophomores will probably learn a lot from this game, especially the fact that they belong with the top echelon.