Jordan Hobbs seldom played as a freshman, came off the bench as a sophomore, moved into the starting lineup as a junior and then watched as six of her Michigan basketball teammates left via the Transfer Portal before her senior year.
Facing the prospect of a massive rebuild in her final season, Hobbs decided to stay. And on Friday afternoon, she played perhaps the best game of her career, scoring a personal-best 28 points to lead her Wolverines to an 80-74 victory over Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The biggest names in that rebuild — the three freshmen starters who join Hobbs and senior Greta Kampschroeder in the starting lineup — all added double-digit scoring as well. Olivia Olson scored nine fourth-quarter points as part of her 16-point performance; Syla Swords had nine rebounds and six assists to complement 11 points; and Mila Holloway was perfect from the floor in the fourth quarter and scored 12 for the game.
Michigan advances to face the winner of Notre Dame and Stephen F. Austin in South Bend. That game will tip off Sunday with the winner advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Iowa State, which had won a play-in game over Princeton to earn its spot in the first round, was led by third-team All-American Audi Crooks. The sophomore center overcame first-half foul trouble to score 28 points on 13-for-18 from the floor. Her jumper early in the second half gave the Cyclones a 10-point lead, their largest of the afternoon.
But the Wolverines battled back. Greta Kampschroeder drained a 3-pointer, Jordan Hobbs followed with one of her own, and then she added two at the free throw line. Later in the quarter, when Crooks scored consecutive buckets to push the lead back to nine, Syla Swords and Hobbs again had the response for Michigan.
The fourth quarter began with a three-point Michigan deficit, but Olivia Olson made an and-one jumper and Mila Hollway scored a fast-break layup to give the Wolverines a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was an entertaining final period, with Michigan responding to Crooks paint scores with 3-point haymakers.
An Addy Brown triple pulled the Cyclones within three points with 1:22 left, but a minute later, Olivia Olson converted the dagger with a turnaround jumper from the elbow.
Michigan has seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances and has now reached the second round on four occasions. The program has two Sweet Sixteen appearances (2021, 2022) and has made one Elite Eight (2022).
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