No. 13 Maryland women’s basketball uses strong third quarter to surge past Michigan State, 94-85

Bri McDaniel split two Michigan State defenders as she powered her way up the court, with seconds ticking down in the third quarter.

McDaniel had her eyes on the basket as she pulled up from deep just before the buzzer sounded. The ball seemed to hang in the air as the entire Terps bench jumped from their seats in anticipation.

As the ball collided with the rim, it swirled around, nearly popping out as it dropped into the net and the arena erupted, with Maryland now up by 19.

It was that kind of day for No. 13 Maryland women’s basketball, who went on to beat Michigan State 94-85 behind a stellar third quarter.

Maryland started off shaky, allowing seven quick points while throwing away two turnovers before it even reached the offensive half of the court.

However, the Terps began to get the gears spinning, converting many long two’s on their way to a 10-0 run that put them up 12-7 heading into the first media timeout.

Afterwards, the Spartans began to weather the storm, trading buckets with the Terps before taking the lead for a brief moment.

The moment was short lived though, as senior guard Abby Meyers began to catch fire closing out the quarter. Maryland led 17-16 heading into the second quarter.

To begin the second, Meyers could not miss, hitting a logo three in the first minute of play before banking a three at the end of the shot clock to put her at 4-4 from the field and 3-3 from downtown.

It wasn’t just Meyers who was hitting her shots though, as the whole Maryland team seemed unable to miss at times. The Terps were shooting 52% from the field and 60% from three midway through the second quarter.

“I think it makes the team extremely dangerous because people can’t collapse [the lane],” senior guard Diamond Miller said about Maryland’s shooting ability. “You just pick your poison.”

By the end of the first half, it was apparent the Terps were on one shooting the basketball, as Meyers and Miller took the game over on the offensive end, both entering double digits in scoring.

That said, the Spartans would not go away, as every time the Terps began to pull away they seemed to punch back with a bucket or two of their own. Michigan State shot an impressive 44% from three in the first half, knocking down eight outside shots before the first half buzzer sounded.

Senior guard Kamaria McDaniel led the Spartans’ scoring in the first half with 10 points and a couple of threes of her own as Michigan State hung in, tying the game at 40 entering halftime.

In the first half, the Spartans lived up to their reputation on the offensive glass, a stat they lead the Big Ten in. Their nine offensive rebounds, compared to the Terps’ four, led to ten crucial second chance points, oftentimes coming right as Maryland seemed to pull away. 

To begin the second half, Miller did not show any signs of slowing down, racking up a quick five points to bring her total to 17.

It was her play that spurred an early 15-0 run in the half, energized by the Terps’ smothering defense and smooth passing offense. Maryland led at the third quarter media timeout 59-46.

Michigan State’s woes continued late in the third, as the Maryland run grew to 23-3. Multiple head-scratching turnovers led to buckets for the Terps.

Sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers got it going offensively during the stretch, spearing past her 14-point season average before the third quarter came to a close. By the end of the third, Sellers had scored 10 points in the quarter alone and 16 in the game.

“I think it was just … changing our focus to lock in defensively,” Sellers said in regards to Maryland’s success in the quarter. 

Maryland outscored Michigan State by a whopping 30-11 in a dominant third quarter, ending with a 70-51 lead heading into the fourth.

“I thought our third quarter … was our X-factor,” coach Brenda Frese said.

However, Michigan State would not go lightly, as the Spartans began the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run, trimming their deficit down to 11. 

The Terps traded baskets with the Spartans for a while, keeping Michigan State at an arm’s length. The lead even reached single digits before Miller knocked down a jumper from the free throw line, effectively icing the game as Michigan State ran out of time to continue its impressive run fueled by efficiency from the three-point line. 

“We’ve been in so many battles, I don’t think we even flinch when games get close,” Frese said. “Our non-conference schedule has prepared us for these battles in conference play.”

In the end, despite the late Michigan State push, it was a great team performance from Maryland, as five Terps finished in double figures. Miller led the way with 25 points, her sixth 20-plus point performance of the season. 

“Diamond brings a lot of energy to the team, she’s always amped up,” Sellers said. “We need that spark of energy. She’s a key factor in what our team does together.”

Despite the loss, Michigan State knocked down 19 threes on the day on 44% shooting beyond the arc. Sophomore guard/forward Matilda Ekh and senior guard Moira Joiner each knocked down five of the 19 made threes. The Spartans also finished with 20 offensive boards.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a stat like that where you come away and still win the game,” Frese said in reference to both statistics. “But we did all the other things that were the difference makers for a [win] like this in conference play.”

It was a positive sign for the Terps that they were able to fend off the Spartans despite their shooting, as Maryland has struggled with defending the three-point line during their losses and close games.

“[Poor three point defense] got us beat against Nebraska,” Frese said. “We were luckily, in this third quarter, able to combat that.”

This win extended Maryland’s streak to six, one the Terps hope to continue their next time on the floor at No. 6 Indiana on Thursday.