Maryland women’s basketball opens up Big Ten play with comeback road victory over Purdue

Photo courtesy of Rose Fernandes/Maryland Athletics

No. 7 Maryland women’s basketball (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten) opened Big Ten play Saturday at Purdue (5-4, 0-1), who suffered blowout losses to the previous top-ten opponents they faced. 

With Maryland being 7-0 all-time at Purdue, the Terps looked to extend their streak against a Big Ten rival. After struggling in the first half, the Terps turned it around, beating the Boilermakers 78-69. 

The game opened with sloppy play from both sides, highlighted by the Boilermakers’ missed layup on a wide-open fast break. Maryland started shooting just 1-for-11 from the field, and Purdue just 2-for-7, with both teams committing three early turnovers. 

The teams combined for only six points – Purdue leading 4-2 – in the first five and a half minutes of play.

After the media timeout, the Terps’ struggles continued, but a layup by Christina Dalce ended the scoring drought. The opposite happened for Purdue, making its next three shots to take a nine-point lead – 13-4. 

Things only got worse for the Terps to end the first quarter as the Boilermakers’ lead grew to 12 – 18-6 – as Maryland shot just 2-for-17 from the field. 

“I don’t think you could have had a worse start for us”, said head coach Brenda Frese. “But I felt encouraged in the second quarter.” 

Maryland came out strong to start the second, making its first two shots. Shyanne Sellers hit Allie Kubkek inside for a layup, followed by a stepback jumper from Sellers. 

Purdue answered right back through with a 7-0 run – extending the lead to 15 – forcing another Maryland turnover for an easy layup.

Sarah Te-Biasu’s three marked the first of the night for the Terps, capping off an 8-2 scoring, cutting the deficit to ten – 33-23. 

After cutting the deficit to six the Terps’ momentum was stopped again with an and-one layup by Rashuanda Jones. Both teams then traded baskets, putting the score at 38-29 at the half. 

Coming out of the break, the Terps were ready to play. Maryland made its first three shots, cutting the deficit to four. It continued to inch closer, with Sellers scoring six points early in the third, then tied the game with two free throws from Bri McDaniel. 

McDaniel’s strong play continued, scoring with great defense and 13 points in the third, with a mid-range jumper to give Maryland its first lead of the night – 48-46. 

“I thought Bri set the tone for us in that third quarter defensively”, said Frese. “She’s our best defender and we’ve got to get others in finals week to start taking that kind of pride on the defensive end.” 

The Terps’ momentum was infectious as Kaylene Smikle drove in for an and-one layup, followed by another score from McDaniel inside to put Maryland up three. Both teams traded layups in the final twenty seconds, bringing the score to 55-52 at the end of the third. 

Purdue opened the fourth with a three to tie it, but Maryland answered with a quick 6-0 run, forcing a Boilermakers timeout. Purdue made its first two shots out of the timeout, but back-to-back threes from Te-Biasu and Saylor Poffenbarger put the Terps back up eight – 67-59. 

After taking a ten-point lead, Purdue did not go away, cutting the deficit to four with 3:30 to play. 

Another three from Poffenbarger capped off her huge game, recording a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, as Maryland closed it out 78-69.

“I think our response was really impressive for us”, Poffenbarger said. “I think being on the road and respond like that, I’m not worried.” 

Maryland has a long break ahead. Its next matchup is on December 19 against William & Mary at Xfinity Center, where the Terps look to get within one game of its 12-0 start from the 2018-19 season.