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No. 5 Michigan makes statement, takes down No. 2 UConn women's basketball team
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- No. 5 Michigan makes statement, takes down No. 2 UConn women's basketball team
Fans of women's college basketball won't be talking about an undefeated UConn team when the Final Four rolls around this season.
Behind 22 points and nine rebounds from Te'Yala Delfosse, the Michigan Wolverines defeated the mighty Huskies 77-66 on Thursday, Nov. 5, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Delfosse shot 8-of-13 from the floor and also tallied two assists, two steals and a block for Michigan. Olivia Olson added 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists, Courtney Ogden scored 12 points off the bench and Syla Swords chipped in 10 points.
For Michigan, the result marks the first win in program history over a team ranked No. 2 or higher in the national polls. Previously, the Wolverines had two victories over the fifth-ranked team. Michigan was ranked No. 5 in USA TODAY Sports' preseason Coaches Poll , while UConn was ranked second.
"How many teams beat UConn? It doesn't happen," Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said.
"To have UConn come here and be able to knock off the best team in college basketball, or one of the best teams, it is really, really cool. I'm happy for our players and our fans."
It's the first time UConn has lost in the regular season in over a year, with its last non-postseason defeat coming on Feb. 6, 2025 at Tennessee. It's also the first time UConn has lost by double figures in the regular season since Dec. 12, 2024 at Notre Dame.
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"Michigan was way more ready from the opening tip for this game than we were," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "They were better organized, they were more discipline, they ran their stuff.
"It was disappointing, more than anything."
Freshman guard Jovana Popovic led the Huskies with 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Reigning National Player of the Year Sarah Strong finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Strong was on the bench for most of the second quarter with foul trouble.
UConn led by four points after the first quarter, but Michigan responded by outscoring the Huskies 18-8 in the second. The Wolverines pulled away in the final period, closing the game on a 20-9 run.
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The Huskies turned the ball over 19 times, allowing Michigan to flip those errors into 14 points. The Wolverines shot 9-of-20 from 3-point land, while UConn was 8-of-31 from deep.
It's an early statement win for Michigan this year after making the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history last season. Kim Barnes Arico is in her 15th season at the helm of the Wolverines and is trying to take them to the Final Four for the first time ever.
Geno Auriemma's Huskies will need to regroup quickly as their schedule doesn't get any easier. UConn hosts No. 10 Iowa in Storrs on Sunday, Nov. 8. The Huskies then play Ohio State, Louisville and Seton Hall before their Final Four rematch with South Carolina on Nov. 24.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No. 5 Michigan makes statement, takes down No. 2 UConn women's basketball team
