Olivia Olson’s explosive third quarter helps Michigan slip past Belmont

The first half of the Michigan women’s basketball team’s matchup on Friday against Belmont was essentially a game of catch-up. If the Wolverines sank a jumper, the Bruins netted a layup. And if Michigan forced a turnover, Belmont simply stole it back. 

This back-and-forth continued until the third quarter, in which the Bruins came face-to-face with freshman guard Olivia Olson. Tallying 12 points in the third quarter alone and 19 total, to go with 11 rebounds, Olson fueled the Wolverines’ second-half comeback and eventual victory with her first career double-double.  

Though Olson became Michigan’s motor in the latter half of the game, it took her a while to warm up. 

Up 9-5 in the first quarter, the Wolverines found another chance to score thanks to an offensive rebound by senior guard Greta Kampschroeder. Looking for an opportunity, Michigan continued to swing the ball around the arc before freshman guard Mila Holloway spotted a wide-open Olson at the corner. Holloway immediately threw the ball to Olson, who netted the shot from downtown. 

While this 3-pointer gave the Wolverines a little more cushion heading into the second quarter, it also just about marked the extent of Olson’s contributions early on in the game. With just one additional layup late in the first quarter and no recorded points in the second, Olson had just five points heading into halftime. 

“We just needed to push harder and settle down and get into our groove,” Olson said. “Everyone was just kind of trying to calm each other down. We knew that we could handle it, and we knew everyone would step up when they needed to.”

And it was in the third quarter that Olson stepped up for Michigan.

With roughly four minutes left in the third quarter, Olson had enough of playing catch-up. Driving into the paint, Olson swiftly caught a pass from freshman guard Syla Swords as she continued toward the basket. With the flick of her wrist, Olson swished the ball into the net, giving the Wolverines a 38-36 lead — a lead they never relinquished. 

“I think we started cutting more,” Olson said. “My teammates found me, and so it just kind of all clicked.”

Indeed, Olson’s teammates found her again, and again, and again. But her standout third quarter wasn’t entirely the result of her teammates feeding her the ball. It was also the fact that Olson simply went after the ball herself. 

“I went into the second half saying, ‘I’m gonna rebound everything,’ ” Olson said. “ ‘I’m gonna try my hardest on the boards, just to get (offensive) boards’, because they weren’t crashing as well. I just wanted to get as many as I could, and I think that helped propel us.”

Standing at the free throw line with 3:40 left in the third quarter, junior guard Brooke Quarles Daniels watched as the ball bounced off the rim. Daniels started toward the ball before realizing that it was already in Olson’s hands. Upon getting the offensive rebound, Olson quickly tossed it into the net for a second-chance layup and a 40-36 lead. 

Despite totaling five rebounds and 12 points in the frame, this was the last of Olson’s dominating presence on the court. After racking up four personal fouls, Olson was mostly in and out of the fourth quarter. But in that final quarter, Olson tallied three rebounds, not only helping her on the way to her double-double but also marking a career-high total on the boards.

While Olson got off to a slow start, her explosive third quarter gave Michigan what it needed most: a momentum shift. And because of it, the Wolverines could escape with the win.

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