No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball narrowly defeats Michigan State, 66-61

When Michigan State had the ball down three with 16 seconds remaining, it felt as if the wheels had fallen off for Maryland. A 7-0 run in under two minutes cut a once 12-point lead down to two, and now the Spartans had a chance to tie the game.

But DeeDee Hagemann’s tying three attempt clanked off the back iron, and Faith Masonius secured the rebound.

Maryland exhaled.

A furious late comeback attempt from Michigan State fell just short, as No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball prevailed, 66-61.

Both offenses started off extremely slow in East Lansing. With just under six minutes to go in the first quarter, the two teams had combined for just six points.

At the first timeout of the game, Maryland was shooting 2-9 from the floor, a stunning 22%. The other side was not much better, as Michigan State was a putrid 2-6, along with six turnovers in the early going.

Prior to the game against the Spartans, coach Brenda Frese stressed the importance of keeping Michigan State off the offensive glass. In the previous meeting in College Park, the Spartans had 20 offensive rebounds, making it a focus for Maryland heading into the game.

However, it seemed as if Maryland failed to listen to the game plan early. Michigan State grabbed three offensive rebounds in the first quarter alone, helping the Spartans grab a 14-9 lead in the first quarter.

The second quarter started off much better for the Terps, as they opened the quarter on a 5-0 run. A Diamond Miller and-one tied the game at 14, but Michigan State roared back with a 7-2 run of its own.

Hagemann picked apart Maryland’s defense in the first half, scoring six points along with three rebounds and two assists. The 5-foot-6 guard took advantage of poor off-ball defense by Maryland, scoring on back door cuts and grabbing loose balls.

As it’s been all season, it was the Miller show. The projected top WNBA draft pick continued to shine, scoring 13 points in the first half, willing Maryland to keep the game close.

“Just staying poised and understanding that there are waves in the game,” Miller said.

Yet it was a mini-run by Masonius that gave Maryland the lead. Knocking in a three, then scoring off an offensive rebound, Masonius’s personal 5-0 run put Maryland ahead 27-26 at halftime.

In the first half, each team struggled immensely from beyond the arc. The two teams combined to shoot a lowly 15% from three on 20 attempts.

Opening up the third was a much different story for Maryland. Miller opened the half with a 6-0 run, stretching Maryland’s lead to seven at the first media timeout.

“We have been having really good third quarters … we obviously guarded harder in that third quarter and now it’s just being able to build those leads and not let them slip away,” Frese said.

It was the next stretch of game time when Maryland really put its stamp on the game. Masonius and Miller continued to lead the way, chipping in five and eight points, respectively, helping put Maryland up 12 with 3:28 to go.

Maryland needed all of Miller and Masonius’ contributions because sophomore guard Shayanne Sellers, the Terps’ second-leading scorer, was held scoreless through three quarters.

“It was a tough night for Shay, I thought they had a tremendous scout on her,” Frese said.

The Spartans did not go away easily, as a 6-0 run in the fourth quarter cut Maryland’s lead down to nine with 8:10 left in the game.

“Michigan State played hard no matter the score and they were not afraid of us,” Miller said.

When the game seemed all but over, Michigan State clawed back in. Missed free throws and turnovers by Maryland gave the Spartans the ball down three with 16 seconds remaining.

But Hagemann missed a three to tie the game, and Masonius knocked in two free throws to give Maryland the nerve racking victory, 66-61.