Offensive woes down No. 17 Maryland women’s basketball 91-71 vs. Nebraska

Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

After leading by as much as 14 points in the first quarter, Maryland’s second quarter saw its early lead disappear. Nebraska took advantage of the Terp’s offense going cold, taking a six-point lead in the final minute of the second quarter. 

Nebraska dominated the game from there, outscoring the Terps 46–26 in the second half after the halftime score was tied. 

“Our team was really hungry coming into this game with a three-game losing streak,” Nebraska head coach Amy Williams said. “When we got down 14, it took great toughness for us to dig deep and lean into each other. Our response after going down was impressive.” 

No. 17 Maryland women’s basketball (19-6, 9-5 Big Ten) struggled in its return to the Xfinity Center, shooting just 12-for-39 from the field in the final three quarters and falling 91-71 to Nebraska (17-8, 8-6 Big Ten) on Thursday night.

Any worries about Shyanne Sellers’ knee were put to rest in the first quarter as the senior guard knocked down her first five field goals from all over the court – and threw a perfect full-court pass to Saylor Poffenbarger for the fast-break layup.  

It was all Sellers to start for Maryland, who looked to exploit a defensive mismatch – scoring 12 of the Terps’ first 15 points. The senior hit shots from all over the court, grabbing four quick points in the paint before expanding her range and knocking down two threes.

But Sellers wasn’t the only Terp scoring in the first quarter. Maryland’s offense scored 29 points in the first quarter, shooting a stellar 63% from the field and 5-for-7 from three. 

After Maryland’s stellar first-quarter performance, the Terps struggled to handle the Cornhuskers’ increased defensive pressure. Nebraska forced three turnovers and held the Terps to 38.5% from the field, allowing the Cornhuskers to take the lead.

But the Terps scored eight points in the final two minutes of the seconds, including a 5-0 run from Sellers and a huge 3-pointer from Emily Fisher to tie the game at 45-45 heading into halftime.

As the game entered the third quarter, Nebraka’s advantage on the glass became evident, as Maryland’s second half turned into a nightmare on both sides of the ball. 

One possession, Nebraska took advantage of Maryland’s poor rebounding, grabbing two offensive boards to allow freshman guard Britt Prince to finish a wide-open layup. 

As the quarter went on, the disparity on the glass grew. The Huskers continued to take advantage of second-chance opportunities and poor perimeter defense with a barrage of three-pointers. 

The two offenses stood in stark contrast in the third quarter. Maryland shot 21.4% in the third quarter, while Nebraska’s offense caught fire, shooting 62.5% from the field to take a 14-point lead into the fourth. 

“We’ve had quarters like this that we were able to get away with on the road,” Maryland head coach Brenda Frese said. “These games come down to playing 40 minutes, and you have to be complete in those 40 minutes. So understanding that you know when to get stops on the defensive end.” 

Maryland’s disastrous second half continued, as the game continued to trend Nebraska’s way in the fourth quarter. The Huskers jumped out to a 25-point lead with under five minutes to play, as their stellar defense shut any hope of a Terps comeback. 

“We just got embarrassed,” said Frese. “Now, in the moment of truth of how you’re going to respond, and if you’re going to be able to move this forward.” 

The Terps will stay in College Park as they prepare for a Monday night matchup against Michigan.