Wolverines Win Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division Title
Wolverines Win Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division Title
The University of Michigan women’s basketball team used a run in the middle stages of the first quarter to take control, running past Virginia Tech, 76-65, in the Shell Division Championship game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Saturday evening (Nov. 30) at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Syla Swords was named the MVP, with Olivia Olson grabbing all-tournament team honors.
Michigan had four players score in double figures, led by Swords, who finished with 24 points, six boards, and two steals. Olson went for 15 points, six boards, and four assists, with Jordan Hobbs and Yulia Grabovskaia each chipping in 10. U-M shot 54.4 percent from the floor in the game while holding Virginia Tech to just 37.5 percent shooting. Michigan tallied a 37-27 advantage on the glass, scoring 14 second-chance points.
Carys Baker, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, led the Hokies with 15 points and she was joined in double figures by Carleigh Wenzel (14) and Matilda Ekh (13).
The complete Shell Division All-Tournament Team includes:
Syla Swords, Michigan (MVP)
Olivia Olson, Michigan
Carmyn Harrison, Belmont
Charlise Dunn, Davidson
Carys Baker, Virginia Tech
Belmont Takes Third in Shell Division
Behind 50 percent shooting from the field and a strong offensive first half, the Belmont University women’s basketball team defeated Davidson College 69-59 Saturday in the third-place game of the 2024 Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division. The Bruins (3-4) got a career-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting and a team-best eight rebounds from senior forward Carmyn Harrison inside Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.
After the Wildcats (3-5) scored the first five points of the game in the opening minute, Belmont led from the 6:33 mark of the first quarter onward.
Four different Bruins reached double figures and Belmont finished 26-of-52 from the floor. The Bruins scored 39 first-half points behind 58.6 percent (17-of-29) shooting after starting the late-afternoon contest 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
With Harrison dominating in the trenches, Belmont scored 44 of its points in the paint. The Bruins also forced 18 Davidson turnovers and scored 27 points off the Wildcats’ miscues.