As a heavy favorite against Division II Ferris State, the No. 13 Michigan women\u2019s basketball team didn\u2019t play down to its competition in its first exhibition. A\u00a0 stifling press and high traps crushed the Bulldogs\u2019 offensive momentum and kept them to just 58 points.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Wolverines didn\u2019t set up their press after their first made basket. But after almost every other make for the rest of the game, three of their guards lingered in the backcourt looking to poke steals, trap or force a 10-second violation. This strategy was extremely effective as Michigan\u2019s high-ball pressure contributed to a whopping 29 turnovers from Ferris State.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to second guess everything they\u2019re doing,\u201d senior forward Alyssa Crockett said. \u201cWhether that\u2019s pushing in transition or the next pass they\u2019re going to make, they constantly are thinking about \u2018Is this going to be open?\u2019 because they know the pressure is there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the first instance of the press, sophomore guards Syla Swords and Olivia Olson executed a trap right next to the half-court line. The Bulldogs swung the ball to another guard who was able to negotiate by sophomore guard Brooke Quarles Daniels, but the tone had been set. Ferris State was forced to recoup its offense at the top of the key and couldn\u2019t initiate a play until there was just 15 seconds left on the shot clock. From there, the Wolverines played stout defense and forced a deep, errant three late in the possession.\u00a0<\/p>\n