INDIANAPOLIS — The second and third place Big Ten teams will rematch, but this time in Indianapolis in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Second-seeded Iowa will face third-seeded Michigan on Saturday, March 7 at 3:30 p.m. Central Time on the Big Ten Network. The Hawkeyes look to build off a commanding 62-44 victory back on Feb. 22 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
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Michigan defeated Oregon, 80-58, to advance. Guard Syla Swords led the Wolverines with 17 points, followed by Olivia Olson with 16, and Ashley Sofilkanich with 14. Michigan shot 43 percent from the floor and 21 percent from long range. Saturday afternoon will be a revenge game for the Wolverines.
“We’re super excited,” Michigan guard Kendall Dudley said after Oregon game. “We want to get this back. We didn’t feel great about how we showed up in the last game, just off the rebounding battle and a bunch of little things.”
Sofilkanich added that she hopes a neutral court can help eliminate any advantages.
Iowa center Ava Heiden took over in the fourth quarter in that matchup, scoring 12 of her 24 points during the frame. Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico explained how to contain the second-year Hawkeye.
“You have to be super active,” Barnes Arico said. “You have to catch her early. She’s just really physical. She scores very quickly.”
Olson ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 19.6 points per game as Michigan sits tied with UCLA in points per game with 85.2. The Wolverines slot in at sixth in the conference in opponent points per game.
Iowa defeated Illinois, 64-58, to advance to the semifinals for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
RELATED: Iowa women’s basketball defeats Illinois, advances to Big Ten Tournament semifinal
