Maryland women’s basketball was dealt tons of adversity this season. One thing the Terps showed off in Minneapolis is their resiliency.
After trailing for much of the first half, buckets by Brinae Alexander and Shyanne Sellers gave Maryland a one point lead late in the third quarter. The Terps trailed by as much as 14.
Maryland’s defense complimented the third quarter offensive surge and stuffed the paint. Illinois missed nine consecutive shots to close the frame while the Terps waltzed into the break with eleven unanswered points.
No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball (18-12, 9-9 B1G) outlasted No. 9 Illinois (14-15, 8-10 B1G), 75-65. Five Terps scored in double digits as part of a well balanced offensive scoring attack.
The Terps move on to the Quarterfinals to face top-seed Ohio State on Friday.
“This team dug deep and found a way to battle,” coach Brenda Frese said. “I think this win shows that we are a NCAA tournament team.”
Maryland fell in an early 14 point deficit in the first quarter. A loss in their first game of the Big Ten tournament would have jeopardized the Terps NCAA Tournament hopes. Illinois shot 68.8% from the field settling for good quality shots early in the shot clock.
The Terps didn’t let the game slip away in the second quarter. Maryland trimmed the Fighting Illini’s lead to seven midway through, without Shyanne Sellers who picked up her second foul early in the frame.
The Terps fought to keep its postseason dreams alive with the second quarter effort. Bri McDaniel started the comeback attempt hitting back-to-back layups in the paint as the Terps closed the half on a 11-4 run.
Maryland grabbed six offensive and converted those into seven points. The Terps tightened up the defense forcing five second quarter turnovers. They capitalized on those Illinois scoring 12 points off turnovers.
Allie Kubek drained two three-pointers in front of the Illinois bench, both off turnovers, and the second one trimmed Maryland’s deficit to 37-35 at halftime. Kubek finished with 13 points after a slow start.
“It’s definitely a confidence booster just like seeing the ball go in,” Kubek said.
It took a bit in the third quarter for Maryland to settle in and storm back, but made noise in a big way closing out the third with eleven unanswered points. The run propelled the Terps into the lead they held onto for the rest of the game.
Illinois cut Maryland’s lead down to four with under five minutes to go but Maryland sealed the game from the free throw line and benefited from some Illinois offensive fouls that wiped away baskets that could have shifted the outcome.
“It’s not how you start, it’s about how you finish,” Alexander said. “I think we finished strong and I’m proud of my team for that.”
Maryland sealed the win without Sellers who picked up her fifth foul with 3:33 left in the game. While Illinois was not a ranked win, the Terps earned another chance to pick one up against the Buckeyes on Friday.
