March is the best month for college basketball because it’s when we witness incredible comebacks from underdog teams that, with their backs against the wall, pull off incredible feats.
On Friday night, the sixth-seeded Michigan women’s basketball team stunned everyone by coming back from a 17-point deficit early in the third quarter to outplay third-seeded Indiana 69-56 in the second half. For the first time in three seasons, the Wolverines will play in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
After defeating the No. 11 Golden Gophers yesterday, the Wolverines are back on track. Laila Phelia and Lauren Hansen, two guards, combined for 37 of Michigan’s 76 points. The Wolverines have the opportunity to put themselves to the test tonight against No. 3 Indiana, a club that is rated No. 12 in the country and will probably host games in the NCAA tournament.
A victory was essential for a Michigan squad that was in danger of missing out on March Madness. A guard achieved a new professional high, and another ignited from beyond the arc to deliver a dagger to the Indiana Hoosiers.
Here are some lessons learned from the successful return.
An all-time high for Laila Phelia’s career
When the Wolverines most needed it, Michigan’s top scorer recorded a career-high 30 points, four rebounds, and four assists while missing just one three-pointer.
Like a turkey on Thanksgiving, she sliced through the Indiana defense. Phelia dismantled the Hoosiers systematically, executing deft finishes such as this one in the lane, which involved spinning to the left block and then finishing off the glass with a flawless finish.
She plays with a little bit of DeMar DeRozan’s style; she won’t always blow past her opponent or put up a three-pointer in their face, but she can pick you apart off screens and finish with style, whether it’s from mid-range or around a defender close to the hoop.
A number of former Wolverines have been chosen into the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), with Leigha Brown and Naz Hillmon guiding the Michigan Wolverines to many victories in March. Phelia could soon be competing with them in the professionals.
Two crucial Wolverines runs in the second half
The Wolverines gained momentum in this game by scoring two runs in the third quarter.
The Wolverines pulled off an amazing comeback, behind by as many as 16 points in the third quarter before storming back behind these two remarkable runs. The Wolverines’ winning streak lasted more than eleven minutes as they outscored the Hoosiers 35–10 in that period. In the end, U-M emerged victorious in the second half, 48-21.
Lauren Hansen gave me a few daggers.
Indiana’s top scorer Mackenzie Holmes, who was marked as doubtful due to a large brace on her knee, checked in for the first time during the game with little over six minutes remaining. At that time, Michigan led 52-48, and the Hoosiers wanted to reclaim the lead and win this game in order to guarantee a top-4 seed and homecourt advantage in the opening two rounds of the NCAA tournament.
Lauren Hansen, though, had other ideas.
Hansen lit up the fourth quarter, making all three of her three-point shots in less than two minutes, after the previous three quarters had been rather quiet. In the end, Hansen scored 16 points, and the deep shots sealed the victory for the Wolverines.
Here are some important numbers that illustrate why Michigan prevailed: Hansen and Phelia weren’t the only Wolverines to score ten points or more. Cameron Williams was excellent in the paint, while Jordan Hobbs scored several crucial baskets in the second half. In this one, both players had ten points.
-Indiana’s 14 turnovers cost the Wolverines 24 points. U-M performed admirably in capitalizing on IU’s errors.
In the second half, the Wolverines only turned the ball over four times while shooting 60% from the field, 66% from three, and 75% from the free throw line. It’s difficult to lose when you perform so brilliantly in the last two quarters.
