The No. 6 Michigan women’s basketball team made a statement in its first Big Ten contest of the season, combining a sustained, fast-paced onslaught with relentless defensive pressure.Behind five sophomores scoring in double figures, the Wolverines’ (8-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) balanced attack demolished Purdue (5-4, 0-1) handily, 104-56. This marked six consecutive Big Ten-opening wins for Michigan, and also marked the Wolverines’ first time eclipsing 100 points in a conference matchup since a 2015 overtime win against Ohio State.Overall, the Wolverines’ lethal attack utilized their full offensive arsenal from the get-go. Their trio of high-scoring guards Olivia Olson, Syla Swords and Mila Holloway combined for 55 points, nearly outscoring the Boilermakers’ entire team. During Michigan’s 13-4 first-quarter-ending run, which ballooned the Wolverines’ lead to 17, five different players contributed from beyond the arc, in the paint and at the free-throw line in a microcosm of Michigan’s complete effort.“It’s just the unselfishness of our team,” sophomore forward Kendall Dudley, a 10-point contributor, said after the game. “Regardless if they’re the starter or whoever it is, they don’t really care. We want to get the best shot, and we’re really quick and cutting, which really helped us when they were doubling on Syla.”Whenever Purdue attempted a trap, either by collapsing on dribble-drives or sending guards to swarm the perimeter, Michigan neutralized the threat with simply backdoor cuts and nifty passes. The Boilermakers were in a pick-your-poison situation without an antidote, and the Wolverines made them pay on each possession, no matter the choice.With lockdown defensive pressure in the half-court, Michigan’s traps near the half-court line stalled the Boilermakers before they could even attempt a post entry pass, a key aspect of their scout. With Purdue forwards Lana McCarthy and Kendall Puryear accounting for a combined 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, the Wolverines targeted their efforts on limiting post touches.Michigan’s double-teams high above the three-point line generated turnovers early and often, separating them early. Purdue’s mistakes either fueled the Wolverines’ free-flowing transition offense with live-ball turnovers or stalled the Boilermakers’ own engines. Their guards committed multiple backcourt and three-second violations, and combined with frequent jump balls, stalled practically all attempts at offensive momentum during a four-minute scoreless stretch in the second quarter.While Purdue couldn’t find any rhythm, Michigan’s offense was perfectly in tune. Possession after possession, the Wolverines charged ahead with a fast pace, generating simple, efficient shots and forcing Purdue into frantic scrambles. No matter which aspect of Michigan’s offense the Boilermakers targeted, the Wolverines simply reversed the ball to find another efficient opening. Their consistent 17-point first-quarter lead vaulted up to 30 at halftime as Michigan wore down the Boilermakers.“What do the other teams do with our team?” Head coach Kim Barnes Arico asked. “Who are you putting your best defender on? … We wear people out because we just have so many offensive weapons. … That’s an area where our sophomores have grown from their freshman year is they don’t really force shots, they take the best shot, and that certainly helps your shooting percentage.”All throughout the contest, Michigan’s five sophomores generated open looks and took high-percentage shots. Their momentum only built in the second half, and the Wolverines ended the game shooting 59 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free throw line on 45 attempts. Their aggressive defense translated directly into offense, all while limiting the Boilermakers to a poor 33 percent from the floor. While the five in double figures — Swords, Olson, Holloway, Dudley and wing Te’Yala Delfosse — marked the second time the Wolverines have achieved that feat this season, it was a different five altogether Nov. 26 against Detroit Mercy. With a dominant showing in its Big Ten opener, Michigan flexed its arsenal of offensive weapons in the onslaught, setting the bar high in pursuit of the Wolverines’ first Big Ten title.