For the No. 6 Michigan women’s basketball team’s first matchup on Oregon’s home court, it was a night plagued by inconsistencies.
After a season-long battle with foul trouble, the Wolverines had their first two players officially sent to the bench. Michigan also surpassed its turnover high even without considering those beyond the fourth quarter. And, initially their most costly mistake, this was the Wolverines’ least successful free throw shooting night by far.
Before taking on the Ducks, Michigan averaged nearly 70% from the line per game. Against Oregon, it barely put up 40%. With a game as foul heavy as this one — and a level of physicality they can expect from the Big Ten — this is a fault the Wolverines can’t afford. Especially not in overtime. Their ability to turn their free throw performance around however, would later save them.
“(The Ducks) started to score and they were able to get to that pressure,” Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. “Their length became disruptive. In that pressure, we were turning the ball over for easy buckets, and it allowed them to get into their press.”
Free throws were Oregon’s time to push ahead. Regulation ended 69-69, and Michigan grabbed a narrow lead until Ducks guard Katie Fiso put up two clean shots at the line with close to 90 seconds left.
Fiso’s shots put the ball in Michigan’s hands. The coast was clear to carry possession to the arch, however, the decision to swing a risky cross-court pass led to a turnover and squashed the Wolverines’ possession almost immediately. Lucky for Michigan, Oregon was battling the adrenaline of a possible up set, and fouled before it could strengthen its lead. This was the Wolverines time to pick up the pieces of their proven to be highly talented offense, and make connections when it mattered most.
The Wolverines were at the line and it was their time to snatch the lead right back from the Ducks. The first shot went up, no good. The second was just the same.
Oregon went back to the line seconds later, and two more good shots put it up 76-73 with just a minute left in overtime. Michigan three-point shooting was unsteady, even for its typically reliable shooters. So, it was unlikely that one shot could tie the game.
The game now looked to the Wolverines’ former vulnerability.
In the fourth quarter, junior forward Ashely Sofilkanich was a crucial tool in keeping the Ducks at bay. Oregon kept creeping up, and its top scorers had especially high momentum. Forward Mia Jacobs had a clear path to the rim. With her teammates guarding the paint, Jacobs drove through the lane and went up for the shot, but Sofilkanich beat her to it. She planted her feet right before Jacobs made it to the rim. Jacobs took the shot and slammed into Sofilkanich, who drew a foul. Less than a minute later, Sofilkanich did it again.
Down by three in overtime, Sofilkanich’s contributions were equally as transformative. She once again drew a shooting foul, tripping Oregon’s pace and putting the tie in range, 76-74. Michigan called back to a previous briefly applied tool to disrupt the Ducks’ offensive momentum and stay in the game rather than folding under pressure.
“As much as there’s a lot of cleaning up that needs to be done, there were certainly a lot of really good things,” Barnes Arico said.
The Wolverines sealed the tie with one final layup and sent the game into double overtime. Michigan’s eventual success at the line in the final period was supported by its relentless defense. Once the Wolverines were able to capitalize on opportunities and patch up a costly weakness, the game was theirs.
