No. 8 Maryland survives late comeback attempt from No. 24 Minnesota

Photo courtesy of University of Maryland Athletics

Despite leading by 20 with under 3 minutes to go, Minnesota caught fire going on a 16-0 run and getting within three points of the Terps in the final 20 seconds. 

However, Maryland was able to avoid the disastrous collapse, thanks to a perfect 21-21 from the foul line, eventually closing out Minnesota to earn its 16th victory of the season. 

“We knew they were going to be really good and physical,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “I credit them. They never gave up and played until the very end.” 

In its first of four straight ranked matchups, No. 8 Maryland (16-1, 6-1 B1G Ten change postgame) overcame No. 24 Minnesota (16-2, 4-2 B1G Ten change postgame) in a crucial Big Ten win, 99-92. Shyanne Sellers led a potent offensive attack, finishing with 27 on 9-of-11 shooting in the Terps highest scoring affair in conference play so far this season. 

While both teams enter the game with nearly identical records, the expectations and views about each team are very different. Maryland’s early season success is unsurprising to many, while Minnesota is off to its best start in school history and ranked for the first time since 2019. 

Unlike many Maryland games this season, both teams started shooting the ball well. At the first media timeout, each shot over 50%, and the Golden Gophers held on to a two-point lead. 

However, both sides cooled off after the timeout. Turnovers plagued each team throughout the quarter, with Maryland committing five and Minnesota committing four. The Golden Gophers held a 19-17 lead after one. 

The worst news to Terps fans was not the two-point deficit, though. Guard Bri McDaniel, their best bench player, fell holding her knee and had to be carried off the floor during the quarter. 

“In the next few days, they’ll be doing some testing on her knee,” Frese said. “That’s really all I have.”  

To start the second, Maryland answered the blow with a 3-pointer on its first possession, but Minnesota answered right back with one of its own. 

Both teams continued going back and forth into the media timeout, with multiple lead changes, neither stretching its lead past four points. 

Maryland came out firing out of the timeout, scoring on its first three possessions. The Terps got two free throws each from Shyanne Sellers and Kaylene Smike, along with a three from Saylor Poffenbarger. 

Sellers’ hot streak continued into this game, scoring her 12th point on a drive to the basket, giving the Terps their largest lead of six with 3:20 to play in the half. The star guard is coming off of 26 and 21-point performances versus USC and Wisconsin respectively. 

The Golden Gophers continued to stay close, getting Terp’s bigs Allie Kubek and Christina Dalce into foul trouble. With them on the bench to end the quarter, Minnesota used its size advantage, getting second-chance points and to the free-throw line with smaller defenders guarding them. 

Despite the Terps’ bigs being forced to the bench, Smike’s layup at the buzzer gave Maryland a 42-37 advantage going into halftime. 

After both teams came out firing on offense to begin the second half, the Minnesota offense began to cool off, allowing the Terps to extend its lead. 

The Terps lead reached 14 multiple times, but Minnesota answered each time to avoid falling into a larger hole. At the end of the quarter, the Terps led 71-60. 

Early in the fourth, Maryland took its largest lead at 15 with Kubek’s third 3-point make, but Minnesota responded with four straight points to stay within striking distance at the media timeout. 

“The coaches told me to shoot the ball today,” Kubek said. “I feel like I’ve been in a slump, so I’m trying to get my confidence back.” 

Minnesota’s offense tried to keep up with Maryland’s offense scoring on three straight possessions, but Sarah Te-Biasu’s 3-pointer stretched the lead to 14 as time continued to tick away. 

Maryland’s offense continued to take over on a feed to a cutting Kubek followed by another Te-Biasu 3-pointer to give them their largest lead of the game at 17 with just 3:07 to play. 

The 3-pointers just kept falling as Sellers nailed one of her own to give her 27 in the game. 

It was at this point that the Golden Gophers completely turned it around, beginning what would be the 16-0 run. The Golden Gophers could not miss during the stretch, hitting a plethora of 3-pointers and forcing numerous Maryland turnovers and defensive lapses.

Finally, Maryland stopped the bleeding as the Golden Gophers were forced to foul with under 30 seconds left, the Terps making their free throws as they had all night. 

Despite another 3-pointer from the Golden Gophers to cut the deficit to just three with 20 seconds on the clock, Minnesota was forced to foul again. The Terps’ perfect night from the line shut down any hopes of a miracle. 

“Still need to work through the fourth quarter,” Frese said. “I think that’s probably the most disappointing piece of the game, but I’d rather learn lessons with a win versus a loss.” 

Maryland will look for another top-25 win against No. 7 Texas at the Coretta Scott King Classic on Monday at 7 p.m.