The Michigan women's basketball team made quick work of Wisconsin over the weekend, and here's a look back at the win for the Wolverines.
Defense was the headliner
From the beginning, the Michigan women's basketball team employed its deadly “jump press” to the tune of seven turnovers in the first period. Wisconsin’s primary ball handler, senior Ronnie Porter, was charged with three in the stats sheet but was culpable for all of them with her lob passes out of the double teams, which allowed Michigan to pressure the receiver and adjust their coverage. Porter’s game statistics were particularly brutal, finishing the game with zero points, three fouls, and five turnovers. When she was subbed off with 3:17 left in the first period, Wisconsin still hadn’t scored.
Overall, the Michigan defense took Wisconsin out of the game. Their final stats were 23 turnovers, shot 40% (although in the first period they shot 8%), just three second chance points, and two fast break points. Michigan finished the game with 13 steals, seven blocks, and 25 points off of turnovers.
Coach Kim Barnes Arico’s team’s strength is to play with pace and push in transition. She said, “Everyone buys into pushing the pace and trying to let our defense lead to our offense.”
Picking up the slack
A subplot was who would step up in scoring with Syla Swords not playing. Sophomores Mila Holloway and Te'Yala Delfosse both had 18 points (to sophomore Olivia Olson’s 21). Delfosse was particularly impressive, with her team-leading 10 rebounds and shooting 50% from the floor.
Delfosse’s long arms and excellent feet allow her to be destructive on the defensive end, and at 6’ 3” with good ball-handling skills, she’s a tough guard on offense. Holloway’s 18 was six above her season average. Sophomore Kendall Dudley’s 11 points were also six above her average, and she was particularly effective on the boards with eight. Her all-around play also kept her on the floor for 23 minutes.