Michigan Women’s Basketball Pulls Away from Nebraska 88-76 Behind Syla Swords’ 28 Points

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 8 Michigan extended its Big Ten dominance with an 88-76 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday night, powered by 28 points from Syla Swords and 21 from Olivia Olson.

The Wolverines (20-3, 11-1 Big Ten) turned a tightly contested game into a double-digit win with a 15-6 run early in the fourth quarter. This victory marks Michigan’s ninth consecutive conference win, setting a program record for Big Ten streaks under head coach Kim Barnes Arico.

Michigan has now remained in the AP Top 10 for a program-record 11 straight weeks and has achieved 20 wins for the 20th time in school history, including 12 seasons under Barnes Arico. Ashley Sofilkanich added nine points and 13 rebounds, helping Michigan control the boards 45-32. The Wolverines shot efficiently in the second half and minimized turnovers, turning early struggles into a decisive performance.

Nebraska (16-7, 5-7) fell to 0-6 against ranked opponents this season. Britt Prince and Amiah Hargrove led the Cornhuskers with 16 points each, while Petra Bozan contributed 12. Despite trailing for much of the second half, Nebraska remained competitive in the first three quarters, leading 25-24 after the opening period and holding a six-point advantage early in the third. Michigan responded with a 6-of-8 shooting surge to close the quarter, taking a 69-64 lead on Swords’ third three-pointer.

Michigan’s win highlights its growing consistency in conference play and sets the stage for a marquee matchup Sunday against No. 2 UCLA, a top-of-the-AP poll showdown with significant NCAA tournament implications. Nebraska will look to rebound Saturday at home against Maryland.