Michigan falls just short of No. 1 South Carolina despite the freshman’s 27

Needing some luck in Las Vegas, the Michigan women’s basketball team narrowly fell short against the No. 1 team in the country on Monday night.

Michigan lost to South Carolina 68-62 in its season opener, despite 27 points from freshman Syla Swords.

The Wolverines got off to a hot start, leading by one at halftime and hanging on until the final second. Swords, a highly touted recruit, added 12 rebounds. Senior Jordan Hobbs scored 19 points on 6 of 22 shooting (including 5 of 16 from 3).

South Carolina, which went undefeated last season en route to a national championship, has not lost a regular-season game since Dec. 30, 2021. Chloe Kitts led the Gamecocks with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Neither team shot particularly well. Michigan was 31 percent from the field; South Carolina was at 33 percent and made just 5 of 26 3-point shots.

Kitts’ fourth offensive rebound and putback gave South Carolina a 41-38 lead early in the third quarter. Both teams hit the offensive glass hard. South Carolina finished the game with 22 offensive rebounds, but undersized Michigan had 20. Kitts’ and-one gave her 17 points and South Carolina had a 49-43 lead with 6:04 left in the third quarter. A nice set piece allowed Hobbs to make a three-pointer that halved the deficit.

The Gamecocks ended a three-minute scoring drought for both teams with a corner 3 that extended their lead to 54-46. Hobbs responded with five straight goals, and Michigan trailed by just three points entering the final quarter.

South Carolina scored the first six goals of the fourth quarter and extended the lead to 60-51 before the Swords’ second chance ended the run. Michigan needed to string together stops and did so. South Carolina went six minutes without scoring, missed eight consecutive shots, two free throws and committed two offensive fouls.

Michigan couldn’t do enough offensively to get it into the game – at least not initially. Swords’ 3, coupled with an empty trip to the foul line for South Carolina, gave Michigan hope with 37 seconds left. Trailing by five, Michigan came back from a timeout with Swords hitting a step-back triple; Michigan trailed 64-62 with 22 seconds left.

Kitts made two free throws before another timeout was called. Swords’ move from well beyond the line was blocked before it left her hands and the upset attempt was thwarted.

The Wolverines put in a valiant effort. They took a 7-0 lead when the Gamecocks missed their first six shots and started just 2-for-12. Michigan fell behind for the first time, 12-11, with two minutes left in the first quarter, but Swords took the lead right back with an and-one – after Michigan picked up the pace on a free throw. Hobbs’ 3 beat the first quarter buzzer and gave Michigan a 21-18 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, South Carolina pushed for a layup that made it 28-27. Michigan scored the next four goals, with Olson making an impressive turnaround in the paint. Greta Kampschroeder made a quick attack and hit a 3, and Swords’ two free throws gave her 16 points and made it 36-30 Michigan with 2:26 left in the half. South Carolina’s 3 just before halftime, on the third shot of the possession, cut Michigan’s lead to 38-37.

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