Maryland women’s basketball had a chance with three seconds left to score a game winner. But Faith Masonius’ diagonal inbound pass sailed out of bounds, giving Michigan a final shot. Laila Phelia drew a foul and knocked down both free throws.
The Terps still had one last chance with 0.06 left on the clock. Emily Fisher lobbed the ball perfectly to Jakia Brown-Turner, who pushed a shot up. The ball danced around and off the rim, squandering Maryland’s bid to force double overtime as Michigan (14-6, 5-3 Big Ten) stormed back from a 15-point halftime deficit to steal a 79-77 win over Maryland (12-7, 4-4 Big Ten).
“I think we executed the play perfectly,” Brown-Turner said. “The rim just didn’t want to give us that rim or take it to double overtime.”
Everything was working well for the Maryland offense in the first half as Brown-Turner’s hot stretch continued after having crossed the 20-point mark in two of the Terps’ past three games. The wing’s hot stretch continued in Ann Arbor, scoring 11 first-quarter points.
Maryland continued putting the pressure on Michigan’s offense in the second quarter, forcing six steals in the second period. The Terps turned the Wolverines’ nine giveaways into 15 points — Maryland’s lead at halftime. The Terps’ offense played an excellent first half against the Big Ten’s best scoring defense, scoring 46 points against a unit that entered the night surrendering just 57.8 points per game.
Then Michigan’s defense returned to form.
Allie Kubek kept Maryland afloat in the third quarter scoring Maryland’s first six points coming out of halftime. The Terps struggled out of the break beyond Kubek, with only two other players finding the back of the net in the frame. Maryland shot just 4-12 from the field, allowing the Wolverines to cut into their deficit by seven entering the fourth quarter.
Michigan shut down Bri McDaniel, holding her scoreless in the third frame and to just five points in the game before she was ejected after getting handsy with Lauren Hansen while fighting for a loose ball before and after the whistle stopped play.
“I thought it was going to motivate us,” coach Brenda Frese said. “… But it didn’t really rally us in any way. I thought Michigan was just a lot more inspired.”
The Wolverines’ heavy work on the glass allowed them to get within single digits by the end of the third frame. They secured seven offensive rebounds in the quarter alone, scoring six second chance points as a result of the added opportunities.
Michigan’s second-half surge continued in the fourth quarter, as a Masonius flagrant offensive foul gave the Wolverines two free throws and an extra possession. They took full advantage, as Phelia knocked down both free throws and Michigan used that extra possession to drill a three-pointer, cutting Maryland’s lead to 67-66 with 1:59 left in the period.
A Phelia free throw tied the score at 67 with under a minute left giving Michigan its first lead of the game. Neither side found the back of the net before the clock hit triple zeroes, sending the game to overtime.
Shyanne Sellers fouled out early in overtime after getting called for her fourth offensive foul of the game. The Terps’ lack of depth glared during overtime after Brinae Alexander fouled out earlier in regulation and McDaniel was ejected in the third.
Maryland’s foul trouble and recent injuries ultimately proved to be costly, as the Terps let the game slip out of their grasp.
“It’s kind of make it or break it and we are right on the breaking point and we’re just trying to stay together as a team so we can get over that hump,” Lavender Briggs said.
