Freshman Syla Swords scored 23 points, eight in the fourth quarter, and No. 24 Michigan edged No. 23 Minnesota 70-65.

With each passing game, Michigan’s freshmen look less and less like rookies. On Thursday night in Minneapolis, they carried the Wolverines to their first top-25 win of the season. Michigan beat No. 23 Minnesota 70-65, handing the Golden Gophers their first loss at Williams Arena this season in 12 tries.

The No. 23-ranked University of Minnesota women's basketball team lost to No. 24 Michigan 70-65 Wednesday night at Williams Arena to fall to 17-3 on the season.

The Gophers have, to this point, taken care of business against the teams they are supposed to beat. They haven’t, to this point, beaten top competition. Minnesota headed into Wednesday’s contest with just two losses — one to then No.

Stepping onto a bigger stage, hosting a game as a ranked team for the first time this season, the Gophers stumbled. The No. 23 Gophers lost 70-65 to No. 24 Michigan because they couldn’t score consistently on offense and couldn’t defend Michigan’s dynamic 1-2 freshman combination of Syla Swords and Olivia Olson.