Illinois remained in striking distance for nearly the entire game, but the one-woman show of Jakia Brown-Turner took over early in the fourth quarter. The graduate student scored 12 straight points for Maryland during a four and half minute stretch, none bigger than a three pointer that pushed the Terps’ lead to 78-69 with 3:44 left.
Maryland women’s basketball (12-6, B1G 4-3) shot a ridiculous 75 percent from the field, and 9-for-9 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, to seal a 90-82 win over Illinois (8-9, B1G 2-5) in the final tilt of its three-game homestand.
“My coaches and teammates have confidence in me to keep shooting when I’m open so just making the right play is all I want to do,” Brown-Turner said. “It’s just reading my man.”
Shyanne Sellers had a quiet first half, failing to score a point. But the guard was an asset with her court vision, dishing out five assists to her teammates.
One of those assists came early in the game. Brown-Turner forced a steal, then Sellers sent a bounce pass to a streaking Bri McDaniel. The sophomore was wide open and converted the layup.
McDaniel remained the Terps’ offensive catalyst with Sellers, Maryland’s leading scorer at 16 points per game, finishing the game 6-for-14 from the field. On Maryland’s final offensive possession of the first quarter, McDaniel flew through multiple defenders to convert on a layup.
Yet McDaniel fell hard heading back down to the floor and limped off the court. She returned to the game with 7:11 left in the second quarter to a big applause. Maryland’s second-leading scorer continued her hot streak from there, knocking down a pair of three-pointers that helped Maryland hold onto the lead.
Illinois kept within striking distance and got even closer after Gretchen Dolan hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, the Illini’s first points from their bench all afternoon.
Coming out of halftime, the Terps started off strong on an 11-to-2 run while grabbing six rebounds. Sellers got involved in the third quarter, finding her groove including her first made field goal, a jumper. Sellers exploded for 10 points in the period, making five of her seven shots and adding three more assists.
“I think we started the third quarter the same way [as Wednesday],” Sellers said. “I think we’re just figuring out how to seal games at the end.”
And yet, Illinois would not quit, clawing back with a pair of Genesis Bryant three-pointers and beating the Terps at their own game, the free throw line. The Illini connected on their first eight free throw attempts, trimming Maryland’s lead to three at the end of the third with a Kendall Bostic three pointer.
Allie Kubek had her best performance in several games, playing 24 minutes — the most since playing 26 minutes against Minnesota. Against Illinois, Kubek scored 17 points including 5-5 from the free throw line despite battling foul trouble.
Maryland was hot from beyond the arc in the second half, connecting on five of its six attempts.
Brown-Turner put Maryland on her back early in the fourth quarter, scoring all of the team’s points during a four and half minute stretch, showing the unselfishness Maryland basketball squads are known for.
“Jakia is so talented,” coach Brenda Frese said. “That’s what you expect from a fifth year. The talent, success that Jakia has and the pressure games she’s played in her four years and we need [the experience].
In the end, a dominant fourth quarter propelled the Terps to the win as Maryland sealed the game from the free throw line.
