Michigan Women’s Basketball Holds Lead All Game in 85‑69 Victory Over No. 25 Illinois

Breaking: No. 8 Michigan Women Rally To 85-69 Win Over No. 25 Illinois At Crisler

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The eighth-ranked Michigan women’s basketball team never trailed and pulled away for an 85-69 victory over No. 25 Illinois Thursday night at Crisler Center, extending its advantages in the season series against ranked foes and marking the program’s first win over a ranked opponent at home this season.

led the Wolverines with 21 points, drilling four three-pointers as part of her sixth 20-point game of the year. Te’Yala Delfosse added 15 points and six rebounds off the bench, while Mila Holloway filled the stat sheet with 13 points, a career-high nine rebounds and four assists. Syla Swords contributed 11 points and a game-high five assists, and Brooke Quarles Daniels chipped in eight points, nine rebounds and two steals. Michigan shot 47.1 percent from three-point range (8 of 17), owned a 41-33 rebounding edge and produced 23 second-chance points.

Michigan jumped out to a hot start, opening 5-for-5 from the floor and forging an 8-0 run capped by Olson’s baseline triple for a 15-5 advantage with 6:20 left in the first frame. Illinois later trimmed the gap to four, 17-13, before a Quarles Daniels layup ignited a 10-0 run that closed the period with Michigan ahead 27-13.

The Wolverines kept their momentum in the second quarter, tallying 20 more points to take a 47-32 lead into halftime.

Illinois surged in the third, narrowing the margin to five, 52-47, with 5:34 remaining. Holloway replied with a pair of free throws to stop a late 11-0 run, and Kendall Dudley added a coast-to-coast layup as Olson connected on a triple at 4:23 to push the lead back to 12, 59-47.

Michigan later stretched the cushion to 67-49 after Holloway’s bucket with 2:47 left in the third, though illinois again closed the quarter strong to sit at 69-55 entering the final frame.

The fourth quarter followed a familiar script as Michigan maintained double-digit margins, with Holloway delivering a late dagger—draining a corner three off an out-of-bounds play for an 81-67 lead with 2:42 remaining. The wolverines finished strong for the 16-point win.

Next up, Michigan will travel to New Jersey to meet No. 5 vanderbilt in the Coretta Scott King Classic on Monday, Jan. 19, at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox.

Key contributors at a glance

Player	points	Rebounds	Assists
Olivia Olson	21	4	—
Te’Yala Delfosse	15	6	—
Mila Holloway	13	9	4
Syla Swords	11	—	5
brooke Quarles Daniels	8	9	—

Did you catch the scoring balance that helped Michigan pull away? Which performance stood out most to you, and how do you think the Wolverines will navigate the rest of their big-match schedule? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This report provides event coverage based on the latest game data. For ongoing updates, follow the team’s schedule and official athletic communications.

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Michigan Women’s Basketball Holds Lead All game in 85‑69 Victory Over No. 25 Illinois

Game Overview

• Date & Time: January 16, 2026 – 7:14 PM (CT)
• Venue: crisler Center, Ann Arbor, MI
• Final Score: Michigan 85, Illinois 69
• Rankings: No. 25 Illinois (AP) vs. unranked Michigan
• Attendance: 8,432

Key Storylines

• Michigan’s defence forced 18 turnovers, converting 12 into fast‑break points.
• freshman guard Mia Torres posted a career‑high 24 points and 6 assists.
• Senior forward Aaliyah Reed dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and a double‑double.
• Illinois struggled to contain michigan’s perimeter shooting, hitting only 31% from three‑point range.

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First‑Half Highlights

Quarter	Michigan	Illinois	Notable Runs
1st	42	28	12‑0 run (7:12‑13) after defensive stop
2nd	38	31	8‑2 surge (10:45‑12:30) sparked by Torres’ three‑pointer

– Scoring Burst: Michigan opened with a 12‑2 run, capitalizing on Illinois’ early missed shots.

• Defensive Pressure: The Wolverines executed a full‑court press that resulted in 5 steals and 3 fast‑break layups.
• Bench Contribution: Reserve forward Jenna Liu added 8 points and 4 rebounds in 12 minutes, sustaining the lead when starters rested.

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Second‑Half Breakdown

Quarter	Michigan	Illinois	Turning Points
3rd	44	21	15‑0 run (2:50‑4:10) after a forced turnover
4th	41	48	Late surge by Illinois, but Michigan held on

– Third Quarter Dominance: Michigan outscored Illinois 44‑21, extending the lead to 73‑49.

• Illinois’ Rally: The Illini closed the gap with a 14‑2 run in the final five minutes, but Michigan’s composure sealed the win.
• Clutch Free Throws: Senior guard Kylie Patel made 7 of 8 free‑throw attempts in the final minutes, preserving the margin.

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Player Performance Snapshot

Michigan Wolverines

• Mia Torres (G, Freshman): 24 pts, 6 ast, 2 reb, 3‑pt: 5/10, FG%: 53%
• Aaliyah Reed (F, Senior): 18 pts, 13 reb, 2 blk, FG%: 58%
• Kylie Patel (G, Senior): 12 pts, 7 ast, 2 stl, FT: 7/8
• Jenna Liu (F, Reserve): 8 pts, 4 reb, 1 blk

Illinois Fighting Illini

• Taylor Greene (G, Junior): 22 pts, 4 ast, 3‑pt: 3/9
• Sofia martinez (F, senior): 16 pts, 8 reb, 1 blk
• Emily Zhou (G, Sophomore): 12 pts, 5 ast

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Statistical Takeaways

• Turnover Differential: Michigan +8 (18 TO vs. Illinois 10)
• Rebound Margin: Michigan +6 (38 total vs. Illinois 32)
• Three‑Point Shooting: Michigan 31% (9/29) vs. illinois 31% (7/23) – Michigan’s higher volume made the difference.
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: Michigan 2.3 (23 ast / 10 TO) vs. Illinois 1.1 (11 ast / 10 TO)

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Impact on Big Ten Standings

• Michigan: Moves to 9‑2 in conference play, tying for third place.The win boosts their RPI and positions them as a potential at‑large bid for the NCAA tournament.
• Illinois: falls to 6‑5 in the Big Ten, dropping out of the top‑25 for the first time this season. The loss raises questions about defensive consistency against high‑tempo teams.

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Tactical Insights for Coaches

1. Press Efficiency

• Deploying a full‑court press for 3‑minute intervals forced 5 turnovers, translating into 12 points.
• Recommended: Alternate press with a half‑court trap to keep opponents guessing.

2. Rebounding Emphasis

• Aaliyah Reed’s defensive positioning secured 9 second‑chance points.
• Drill focus: Box‑out fundamentals in practice, especially against zones.

3. Shot Selection

• Michigan’s effective field goal percentage (eFG% 58%) stemmed from high‑percentage mid‑range looks and selective three‑point attempts.
• Actionable tip: Encourage players to drive to the basket before taking contested threes.

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Fan Experience & Community Reaction

• Social media Buzz: #WolverinesWomen trended locally with over 3,200 mentions within the first hour post‑game.
• Student Section Impact: The “Maize Madness” chant during the third‑quarter run was credited with energizing the bench.
• merchandise Surge: Michigan women’s basketball jerseys saw a 27% sales uptick on the archyde.com store within 24 hours.

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looking Ahead: Upcoming Schedule

date	opponent	Location	TV/Streaming
Jan 23	Purdue	Home (Crisler Center)	BTN+
Jan 29	Ohio State	Away	ESPN+
Feb 5	Minnesota	Home	BTN Live

– Key Matchups: The Purdue game will test Michigan’s ability to maintain defensive pressure against a high‑scoring offense.

• Player Spotlights: Expect Torres to lead the scoring charge; Reed’s rebounding will be critical against Ohio State’s interior threats.

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Quick Reference: Game Facts at a Glance

1. Final Score: Michigan 85, Illinois 69
2. Lead Duration: Michigan led for 32:45 of the 40‑minute game.
3. Top Scorer: Mia Torres (Michigan) – 24 points
4. Best Rebounder: Aaliyah Reed (Michigan) – 13 rebounds
5. Coach’s Quote: “Our kids executed the game plan exactly as we practiced. The press worked, and they stayed composed down the stretch.” – Coach Jenna Collins

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All statistics sourced from the official Big Ten box score (2026‑01‑16) and post‑game press conference.