Women’s NCAA Tournament: #6 Michigan v. #2 Baylor

Who will WIN this matchup?

#6 Michigan Wolverines (16-5)

#2 Baylor Lady Bears (27-2)

Current odds:

Michigan Wolverines: (+700)

Baylor Lady Bears: (-1100)

• The line for this game is Baylor by 13.5 points.

• Michigan is making its first appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 following wins over Florida Gulf Coast (87-66) and Tennessee (70-55) in the first two rounds. U-M had been 0-5 in the second round prior to Tuesday’s (March 23) win over the Lady Vols. Head coach Kim Barnes Arico has now taken two different programs to the Sweet 16 after leading St. John’s there in 2012.

• The regional semifinal game will feature a pair of Wade Trophy and Katrina McClain Award finalists in Naz Hillmon and Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith. Hillmon (24.6 ppg) is one of three players scoring in double figures for the Wolverines, joined by Leigha Brown (17.6 ppg) and Akienreh Johnson (11.0 ppg).

• It has been a season of firsts for Michigan: highest ranking in program history (No. 11), first 10-0 start, first 50-point game (Naz Hillmon, Jan. 21 at Ohio State), first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and highest seed in program history at No. 6. In addition, Hillmon is Michigan’s first-ever All-American as she has garnered honors from Sports Illustrated (first team), the Associated Press (second team) and The Athletic (first team). She is also one of four finalists for the Wade Trophy.

• Michigan has been in San Antonio since last Wednesday (March 17) in advance of starting the NCAA Tournament. For the tournament, U-M is averaging 78.5 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting while allowing just 60.5 points per game on 38.2 percent shooting. U-M has a quartet in double-figure tournament scoring in Leigha Brown (25.5 ppg on 60.0 percent shooting), Naz Hillmon (16.5 ppg, 14.5 rpg), Hailey Brown (12.0 ppg) and Akienreh Johnson (10.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg). In addition, Danielle Rauch has started both games and has set or tied her career highs in points (8 vs. FGCU), rebounds (6 vs. Tennessee), steals (5 vs. Tennessee) and minutes played (34 vs. FGCU).

• No. 2 seed Baylor (27-2) is coming off wins over Jackson State (101-52) and Virginia Tech (90-48) to advance to the Sweet 16. The Lady Bears are averaging 82.6 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting while allowing 54.2 points per game on 31.7 percent shooting. Baylor has four players in double-figure scoring in NaLyssa Smith (18.0 ppg), Dijonai Carrington (13.6 ppg), Moon Ursin (12.3 ppg) and Queen Egbo (11.3 ppg). Baylor leads the all-time series against Michigan, 1-0, after recording an 80-58 win in the 2018 NCAA Tournament in Waco, Texas.