No. 10 Maryland women’s basketball cruises to 92-70 victory of Toledo

Photo by Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

In their first matchup since 1992, No. 10 Maryland women’s basketball (8-0) looked to give Toledo its second loss to a Big Ten team this season. The Terps did that, beating Toledo (4-2) 92-70 and dominating the paint in the second game of the Navy Classic. 

Despite being one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country, the Terps shot just 2-13, paving the way for the Terps’ dominance in the paint, outscoring the Rockets 70-34 in the paint.

The Terps bench played a crucial role as well, scoring 41 points, led by Saylor Poffenbarger’s team-high 19 points. 

“I think having depth just shows how dangerous we can be”, Poffenbarger said. “You don’t ever want to drop off.” 

The Terps got it going right away, starting with an 8-0 run with all four baskets coming in the paint. Kaylene Smikle opened with a layup, followed by Shyanne Sellers with a short jumper, then another layup by Smikle and a hook shot from Allie Kubek. 

Toledo then answered with a 7-0 run to get them within one. Poffenbarger gave the Terps a spark, scoring four straight points off the bench, followed by another Kubek layup, making the first 14 Terps points in the paint. 

Toledo tied the Terps on the scoreboard – 17-17 – with the opposite approach, starting 3-3 from downtown. 

However, Maryland’s paint dominance continued with an 8-2 run, with all points coming inside, closing out the first quarter up 25-21. 

Shyanne Sellers knocked down the Terps’ first three off a Rockets turnover to start the second. After a Bri McDaniel layup, Toledo’s hot shooting continued on its ensuing possession, knocking down another three. 

After both teams’ two-minute scoring drought, Poffenbarger knocked down the Terps’ second three to give Maryland its largest lead – 37-26. 

Maryland’s free-throw struggles continued in the second, with Mir McLean missing two. On the ensuing possession, Kubek made two free throws of her own, followed by a Poffenbarger layup to put the Terps up 13 – 43-30. 

After two Toledo free throws, Maryland started to pull away, making four layups to close out the first half up 51-33, and ending the half shooting 72% from the field. 

Kubek started the second half with another layup, but the offense stalled. The Terps’ offense struggled in its three-minute-plus scoring drought, forcing head coach Brenda Frese to call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, McLean ended the drought with a layup to put the Terps up 19 – 58-39.

In the final six minutes of the third, Maryland’s lead swelled to 68-46 to end the quarter. 

The Terps’ fourth quarter was like the whole game. They scored with layups and free throws, never letting Toledo back into it and finishing the game, shooting 60% from the field and 61% from the free-throw line.  

“We’re a very good offensive team”, Frese said. “[I’m] more concerned now with the defensive side … the ball is not always going to be going in the basket.” 

The Terps will look to keep the undefeated season alive versus Mount St. Marys on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the XFINITY Center.