The first day of the women’s NCAA tournament got off to a fiery start early on. In a game that many predicted would result in an upset, No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 11 Iowa State 80-74 in a thrillingly close game to open Friday’s slate.

With Michigan’s three star freshmen struggling early, senior guard Jordan Hobbs had one of the best games of her career, leading the team with a career-high 28 points. Cyclones star center Audi Crooks, meanwhile, had another dominant performance, tying Hobbs with a game-high 28 points.

The game came down to the wire as both teams found their momentum. Michigan went ahead early, but Crooks came alive in the second quarter to drive Iowa State to a five-point lead at halftime.

The Wolverines went on a 9-1 run to open the fourth quarter and pull ahead. But then the Cyclones crept back, getting within one point with less than five minutes remaining. Still, after struggling with threes all game, Michigan suddenly got hot from beyond the arc.

A few more points from Crooks made it a three-point game with a minute remaining. But a tough mid-range jumper from Big Ten Freshman of the Year Olivia Olson made it a two-score game with 20 seconds left. Syla Swords then hit a free throw to ice the 80-74 win.

Michigan, like most teams, struggled to find an answer to Crooks throughout the game. The Wolverines field five guards in their starting lineup, and don’t have a real big on the team. The tallest player in the lineup — Hobbs — is 6’3″, the same height as Crooks, but she couldn’t do much to stop Crooks under the basket.

But in the end, Michigan was able to hold strong as a team. All five of the Wolverines’ starters ended with double digits; Swords nearly got a double-double with nine rebounds. Michigan’s three star freshmen — Olson, Swords and Mila Holloway — had a slow start to the game, but all bounced back in the second quarter to boost the Wolverines to a win.

Michigan will now face the winner of Notre Dame-Stephen F. Austin on Sunday.