The 73-67 win for Michigan women's basketball over USC earlier this week was a tight affair due to the third period, when USC outscored Michigan 31 to 13. In that period, they shot an incredible 73% from the floor and were unconscious from 3-point range, where they shot 4-for-4. Michigan ratcheted up the defense, resulting in victory for the Wolverines.
The second half began with Michigan up 40-27. However, USC came out on the front foot and took it to Michigan, and with 3:03 left in the third period, USC was ahead 50-48 after a 23-8 run. USC did it with pressure defense, causing Michigan five of their game total 12 turnovers, holding them to just two of their game total 18 assists, and shooting just 2 of 8. With the ball, they blended a strong mix of outside shooting and paint presence and shot extremely well. USC was led during this time by senior Kara Dunn, who in the period went 4 of 4 from the floor (1-1 from 3pt) and totaled 11 points in the period. USC was ahead when the period ended, 58-53.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Michigan took control by toughening up the defense. USC scored their first basket with the period half over at 4:55, while Michigan scored 11. In the first five minutes, Michigan held USC to five shot attempts, making only one. In the final five minutes, USC shot eight times, making only two and having two blocked. On offense, Michigan spread the points with sophomores Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway scoring six, senior Brooke Quarles Daniels with six, and Ashley Sofilkanich added two. Sophomore Syla Swords missed her three shots.
Balance is the key
In the fourth quarter, coach Kim Barnes Arico went with her most trusted players, with Olson, Holloway, Quarles Daniels, and Swords playing the whole quarter, and Sofilkanich playing 9:37, getting substituted at the end of the game by sophomore Kendal Dudley. The five played as one, looking for each other on offense (six assists on their eight baskets), and spreading the scoring around, with six each by Olson, Holloway, and Quarles Daniels and two for Sofilkanich. USC focused their defense on Swords, keeping her off the fourth quarter scoresheet. But Swords kept her intensity on both ends on the floor, knowing that her teammates would shoulder the scoring load. To paraphrase Mr. Miyagi from “The Karate Kid,” Balance is the key. If the balance is good, the basketball is good.
Flowers to Quarles Daniels
In her post game interview, Barnes Arico said, “Our team really stuck together in that fourth quarter. And it was led by Quarles Daniels’ energy. She was just relentless the entire game.”
Quarles Daniels has only one speed: full throttle. But in the fourth quarter, she was able to find another gear. Her stat line: 3-for-3 FG, one defensive rebound, and two steals. Her second steal was the most important. USC had possession with 2:05 left, down by seven. A basket would make it a two-possession game. Quarles Daniels found herself posted up by Dunn, USC’s leading scorer. She was fronting Dunn, and the entry pass was looped over her head. But before Dunn landed, she had her hand on the ball and stole it. She then drove the length of the court, then, seeing that USC was back on defense, wisely took the ball back out. Her final stat was a key rebound from a USC 3-point shot, where she followed her nose, grabbed the ball, headed up court, and was fouled.