While Belmont's record was only 2-3 coming into the game, I was a little concerned about this game because Belmont had #11 OSU Buckeyes on the ropes earlier, and undefeated OSU pulled it out in the end 67-63.
UM started fast against Belmont and went up 12-4 and it seemed like another blowout, but someone put a lid on the bucket and the momentum swung the other way and Belmont came from 8 down, to actually take a 6pt lead in 2nd qtr. Senior Jordan Hobbs carried UM in 1st half with 12 big points and enabled UM to claw back and tie it up at 27-27 at halftime (Hobbs had 12pts, the 3 diaper dandys in Swords, Olson, & Holloway each had 5pts a piece at the half and that was all 27 pts UM had at half)
But in the 3rd qtr, "Do it All" Liv Olson was not going to let the upset happen, and had a strong 3rd quarter and was firing on all cylinders and the Wolverines UM took the lead by 8pts by end of 3rd quarter.
In the 4th, UM held serve as Syla Swords came to life and hit a couple of big 3s, reserve Brooke Quarles-Daniels was scrappy off the bench, Yulia Grabovskia was strong on the glass, and Mila Holloway hit 6 consective FTs towards down the stretch to ice it.
Final Score: UM 68-58 over Belmont.
Starters:
-Liv Olson 19pts, 11rebs (led in both)
-Jordan Hobbs 15pts, 7rebs, 3asst, 2steals
-Syla Swords 14pts, 8rebs
-Mila Holloway 11pts, 4rebs, 5assts
-Greta Kampschroeder, 3pts, 3rebs
Bench:
-Brooke Quarles-Daniels, 4pts, 5rebs, 1blk
1steal, 1asst
-Yulia Grabovskaia 2pts, 6rebs (5offensive Rebs), 2assts, 1steal
-Macy Brown, 0pts
UM plays 6-1 Virginia Tech in the Championship game at 7:30 on Saturday at 7:30pm.
Va Tech was a final 4 team 2 years, but their coach and top shooter left for Kentucky. Lets bring home the trophy ladies