UM falls just short against No. 1 South Carolina

LAS VEGAS – The University of Michigan women's basketball team went head-to-head with defending champion and No. 1 South Carolina before falling 68-62 in the Hall of Fame Series season opener at T-Mobile Arena.

Syla swords had a sensational debut in the Maize and Blue, posting a double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds in her first collegiate game. Jordan Hobbs contributed 19 points while Olivia Olson added five points and five rebounds. Michigan held South Carolina to just 33.3 percent shooting and was able to match the Gamecocks with 52 rebounds.

Michigan opened the game with a 7-0 run, scoring a three-pointer from Hobbs and shots from Swords and Mila Holloway for the early advantage.

Michigan scored on a crucial three-pointer from Hobbs to take a 21-18 lead in the first quarter. Swords led the way with 10 points in the first quarter and Hobbs added six as the Wolverines took an early lead.

Swords scored on the first possession of the second quarter, extending Michigan's lead to five points. An Olson layup with 8:18 remaining kept the five-point lead at 27-22. South Carolina responded with six straight points, forcing a Michigan timeout at 4:50 with the Gamecocks leading by one point.

The teams went back and forth until a three pointer was reached Greta Kampschröder and two free throws from Swords made it a 36-30 lead with 2:26 left before halftime. South Carolina responded by hitting a three-pointer to close the half, cutting Michigan's lead to 38-37 after 20 minutes.

South Carolina scored the first four points of the third quarter, extending its run to 7-0 and taking a 41-38 lead. Two free throws from Swords with 7:14 on the clock stopped the run and brought Michigan back to within one point. The Gamecocks continued to apply pressure and at that point built their largest lead of the game at 49-43 with just over six minutes left in the third period.

Michigan refused to give up and closed within three points after 30 minutes. Hobbs scored five straight points for the Wolverines, giving South Carolina a 54-51 lead early in the fourth quarter.

With just over three minutes left, Michigan got within four points, 60-56, on a free throw from Swords. South Carolina scored on its next possession to extend the lead to six, but Michigan continued to fight.

The Swords hit back-to-back three-pointers, rallied around two missed South Carolina free throws and pulled the Maize and Blue within two points with 22 seconds left.

The Gamecocks made both free throws after Michigan was forced into a foul on the ensuing possession. Michigan failed to convert on its next possession, and South Carolina made two more free throws with less than a second left to seal the six-point win.

Michigan returns to Ann Arbor, Michigan for its home opener against Lehigh on Friday, November 8th at 7 p.m