No. 9 Michigan hands Syracuse women’s basketball team its first loss of season

Syracuse center Uche Izoje, bottom left, and Michigan guard Syla Swords, right, grapple for control of the ball in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Macy Brown (2) drives toward the basket as Syracuse guard Camdyn Nelson (13) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Olivia Olson (1) and forward Alyssa Crockett, center, vie for control of the ball with Syracuse center Uche Izoje (44) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Olivia Olson (1) shoots at the basket as Syracuse forward Aurora Almón (0) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) reaches for the ball in front of Syracuse guard Shy Hawkins (14) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico, left, speaks with forward Kendall Dudley (22) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Syracuse, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Syracuse guard Angelica Velez (15) drives toward the basket as Michigan guard Mckenzie Mathurin (25) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan forward Ally VanTimmeren (21) shoots at the basket as Syracuse forward Keira Scott (1) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Te'Yala Delfosse, center right, drives toward the basket as Syracuse forward Aurora Almón, center left, defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Mila Holloway, center, grapples with Syracuse forward Jasmyn Cooper, left, and guard Dominique Darius, back right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Michigan guard Syla Swords (12) passes the ball in front of Syracuse forward Aurora Almón (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Uncasville, Conn. — Te’Yala Delfosse came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points and No. 6 Michigan rolled past Syracuse 81-55 on Sunday in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Olivia Olson finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Michigan (5-1), which had 20 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Orange 46-32.

Delfosse scored five consecutive points as Michigan had the final 11 points in the first quarter. Syracuse pulled within 12 after a basket by Shy Hawkins. Syla Swords answered with a 3-pointer and assisted on a Delfosse basket to give the Wolverines a 38-21 lead at halftime.

Olson scored to give Michigan its first 20-point lead with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter. Mila Holloway followed with a 3-pointer. Syracuse had 13 offensive rebounds in the second half but couldn’t keep Michigan from pulling away and improving to 6-0 against Syracuse.

Syracuse’s Laila Phelia, who led the Orange with 13 points, played her first three seasons at Michigan. She was the leading scorer for the Wolverines during the 2023-24 season and averaged 14.1 points in 88 career games at Michigan.

Uche Izoje had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Dominique Darius added 10 points for Syracuse (5-1).

Syracuse was ranked in the top 10 in offensive rebounds per game coming into the game, but Michigan held a 14-3 advantage in the first half.

Michigan, which on Friday played with the highest ranking in program history, threw a scare into top-ranked UConn before falling 72-69 despite 29 points and eight 3-pointers from Swords.

Syracuse hosts Howard on Sunday.

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