After starting the first quarter with lockdown defense, No. 6 Michigan’s biggest concern started to rear its head: center Audi Crooks.
Michigan found itself trailing as Crooks heated up in the paint, and the Wolverine offense went ice cold. But senior guard Jordan Hobbs willed the Wolverines to a win, pulling past the Cyclones 80-74 and advancing to the round of 32 to face No. 3 Notre Dame on Sunday.
UP AND DOWN CONTEST
In the first quarter, it looked like Michigan’s defense would snuff out Iowa State’s biggest strength in feeding the post. The Wolverines grabbed six steals — four of them on entry passes to Crooks in the post — and turned those into nine points in the first ten minutes alone. The Cyclones typically try to get Crooks a touch on every possession, but senior guard Greta Kampschroeder denied the entry pass and defenders in the corners crashed to help on the block. Michigan switched Hobbs onto Crooks and even brought in junior forward Alyssa Crockett to bring some height.
But no matter who they brought, Crooks was always the Wolverines’ top priority.
“Obviously we’re not going to outmuscle her. She’s a very strong player and she’s skilled as well,” Kampschroeder said. “But we had to be a little bit more strategic, trying to make her work a little bit, kind of throw some different things at her every time, kind of move around her, essentially to make the passers also a little bit uncertain where they’re going to get her the ball. Obviously she’s going to get her points either way. That’s why she’s an All-American. … The whole game we were just trying to make them think, make them work, make her work and tire her out. I thought overall we did a good job.”
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