No. 2-seed Maryland women’s basketball surges past No. 7-seed Arizona, 77-64

Maryland women’s basketball came out of the halftime tunnel looking despondent, as the Terps trailed at the break for only the second time in six games. Arizona had all the momentum, as the Wildcats went on a 17-7 run to end the first half.

But then Diamond Miller and the rest of the Terps seemed to realize what was at stake. Their defensive intensity ratcheted up, holding the Wildcats to just 20% shooting in the third quarter.

Maryland also had the best player on the floor, as it has for most of this season. Miller poured in 13 third quarter points on perfect shooting, including her signature flex to the crowd in what is most likely her last game at the Xfinity Center.

Miller’s performance propelled No. 2-seed Maryland to a convincing 77-64 victory over No. 7-seed Arizona on Sunday, advancing to coach Brenda Frese’s eleventh Sweet Sixteen.

The game was not as uncompetitive as the score indicated, as Arizona responded from a dreadful opening quarter to take the lead at halftime.

The Wildcats started the game with three-straight turnovers, and the Terps took full advantage. A couple mid-range jumpers from roommates sophomore guard Shayanne Sellers and senior guard/forward Faith Masonius helped give Maryland a 6-0 lead before the Wildcats were forced to use a timeout to quell the momentum.

Masonius missed last year’s NCAA tournament and her absence was a big detriment to the team, according to her teammates. She made sure to make her presence known against Arizona though, grabbing four rebounds and chipping in 12 points.

Her real value comes on the defensive side of the floor though per coaches, where the Terps swarmed Arizona early on.

In the first quarter alone, Maryland’s pressure forced the Wildcats into seven turnovers. A couple Maryland giveaways helped Arizona trail by only nine, 17-8, at the end of one.

Both teams settled into an offensive rhythm in the second quarter. A couple three’s from senior guards Abby Meyers and Brinae Alexander offset Arizona fifth year forward Cate Reese’s post-up baskets.

The Terps fronted nearly every Reese post-up, with a helpside defender sitting in the paint behind the All-Pac 12 player. Frese’s strategy gambled that Arizona wouldn’t make enough shots from the outside, which ultimately proved to be astute as the Wildcats only shot 16% from deep.

“I think their game plan was just to sag in the paint, make it difficult for the post to score, so I think they did a good job,” Reese said.

“You have to be able to help off certain players in order to be able to that kind of inside-outside approach and I thought they did a tremendous job,” Frese said. “I thought [the defense] did a tremendous job when Reese was physical and [she] battled the entire night but I thought collectively the defense held true.”

Yet Maryland’s shot selection in the second quarter allowed for Arizona to roar back into the game. A 19-4 run over five minutes gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game and Frese was forced to call a timeout after Maryland trailed 33-29.

“They couldn’t stop us in transition,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes said.

At the halftime break, the Terps trailed 33-32, which was only the second time in six games that Maryland trailed at half.

And then the Terps realized they had a top projected WNBA draft pick on their roster; the third quarter was the Miller show. The star senior guard scored 13 points on 100% shooting in the frame, including a step-back three to extend the Terps lead to six.

“Luckily I had a second half to regroup and continue to play basketball,” Miller said of her post=halftime outburst.

Maryland’s defense was what swung the game though. An elite defensive unit all year, the Terps held Arizona to just nine third quarter points, taking a 61-42 lead heading into the final quarter of the season at the Xfinity Center.

Arizona made one last final push in the fourth, outscoring Maryland 22-16 in the final frame. But it was not enough as Maryland made enough timely shots to prevail, 77-64.

The Terps finished the game with four scores in double digits, and Meyers narrowly missed that mark with nine.

Advancing to Frese’s third-consecutive Sweet Sixteen, Maryland will continue to hope for similar all-around performances from its lineup. The Terps’ next test will be a familiar one, as they will travel to Greenville, South Carolina to take on No. 3-seed Notre Dame.