The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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42 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2025 BY ANTHONY BROOME E ight months ago, a young U-M squad saw its season end with a humbling loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA Tourna- ment Round of 32 in South Bend. Early in its next campaign, it got its revenge, and then some. The then-No. 14-ranked Michigan squad never trailed and had four players in double figures in a 93-54 win over No. 18 Notre Dame in the Shamrock Classic on Nov. 15 at Wayne State Fieldhouse in downtown Detroit. Sophomore guard Olivia Olson posted 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, while classmates Mila Holloway (12 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and Syla Swords (11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists) combined for 23 points. Junior forward Ashley Sofilkanich added 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers in the game. Senior guard Brooke Quarles Daniels had 10 rebounds and 3 steals in a per- formance that would personify how the Wolverines bullied Notre Dame. "We had talked about being in the city of Detroit, our city and our state and everything Detroit stands for: blue col- lar, hard-working grit and toughness," Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico said after the game, via The Michigan Daily. "We pride ourselves on being a hard- working team on the defensive end, and we wanted to show that tonight. … "We wanted to go out and establish ourselves on the defensive end. ... I thought our defense really established us." A tone was set from the start with Michigan jumping out to a 7-0 lead as it kicked off its wire-to-wire dominance of Notre Dame. The Wolverines led 17- 10, 46-29, 65-42 and 93-54 after each quarter, and the outing was headlined by winning the rebounding battle, 50- 28. "We chart [rebounding] every prac- tice," Barnes Arico said. "We chart it ev- ery single day and we run for it at the end of every practice, whoever doesn't block out." U-M's power and complete control in the victory were a product of the type of preparation the team has, accord- ing to senior forward Alyssa Crockett. The Wolverines took it all out against a ranked opponent. "We practice hard for two and a half hours, and if you let up at the end of practice, that goes to show how the fourth quarter is going to go," Crockett said. "It's a continuation of how you push yourself and how you stay men- tally tough." U-M SIGNS TWO TO 2026 CLASS Devin Cosgriff, a four-star recruit and the No. 59 player in the 2026 class, of- ficially signed with the program on Nov. 12. Five days later, Fope Ayo, a four-star center, committed to U-M as well. Cosgriff, a Livermore, Calif., native, committed to Michigan in July and is a three-time first-team all-league honoree, first at Archbishop Mitty in the West Alameda County Confer- ence, Foothill League (2023, 2024), and in 2025 in the West Catholic Athletic League. Cosgriff also has USA Basketball ex- perience, having attended the Women's Junior National Team minicamp in April and USA Women's U16 National Team Trials in 2023. "We are so excited to add a player and a person like Devin to our program," Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico said. "She is one of the toughest kids I have watched play for the last few years. She is willing to defend, she's willing to rebound, she has a great midrange game and she's just a winner. She plays in programs that win; she plays for a tremendous high school coach and a tremendous AAU program. I think add- ing her to our program here is just going to help us be a better team. Anytime we add someone with her grit, tenacity and winning attitude, we add some- thing special." The 6-foot-5 Ayo chose U-M over South Carolina, Stanford and Miami. ESPN has her ranked as the No. 45 player in the class (while listing her as "Ayo Mofopefoluwa" — On3 rated her as No. 55 listed as "Fope Ayo." Ayo plays for Reading (Mass.) Austin Preparatory School. Ayo, the top-rated player in the state of Massachusetts, is of Nigerian de- scent and has a minimal social media presence as the result of a family rule. Per On3 reports, Ayo has a college- ready body. She has a big, strong frame and has continued to grow, adding two inches to her height since last season. She is a strong shot blocker who can finish around the rim. Last season, she was named All-NEPSAC and the AA Defensive Player of the Year. ❏ ❱ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL U-M Gets Its Revenge Over Notre Dame In Ranked Showdown The Wolverines had plenty to celebrate in their 93-54 obliteration of Notre Dame on Nov. 15 in Detroit. Following the win, U-M vaulted to No. 6 in the AP poll, its second-highest ranking ever. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY