Maryland women’s basketball (14-10, 6-7 Big Ten) returns to action from a week-long layoff Sunday afternoon for its first home game since a defeat to No. 4 Iowa two weeks ago.
The break was much needed as the Terps were in a four-game span with only one day of preparation. While Maryland had a period to rest and recover, its opponent — Penn State (16-9, 7-7 Big Ten) — is on a quick turnaround following a 86-71 home loss to Illinois Thursday night.
The loss to the Fighting Illini extended the Nittany Lions’ losing streak to four games.
The last time Maryland and Penn State faced each was in late January in Happy Valley, when the Nittany Lions routed the Terps 112-76, handing Maryland its worst conference loss of the season. Penn State shot 61.5 percent from both the field and beyond the arc, leading to the offensive onslaught in an emotionally charged game that benefitted the Nittany Lions.
“On defense we lacked discipline,” guard Lavender Briggs said. “We’re doing things we don’t typically do and giving them wide open shots.”
The Terps’ leading scorer Shyanne Sellers played just nine minutes in the last matchup, leaving the game early after colliding with another player and injuring her knee to thin her team’s already small rotation. But Sellers is back healthy for round two.
Maryland will honor its four seniors before Sunday’s game, Briggs, Brinae Alexander, Jakia Brown-Turner and Faith Masonius as part of the annual Senior Day festivities, fueling emotions that could favor the Terps.
“Last year we went to the NCAA tournament, made an elite eight run, all the top-25 wins we had last year so I definitely feel like I’ll be leaving my little mark,” Alexander said. “It is just another game as far as on the court and bringing the same intensity.”
Another element that could fuel emotions will be Ashley Owusu’s first trip back to Xfinity Center since she helped Maryland advance to the Sweet 16 in 2022. Owusu spent her first three years as a Terp, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2020. Owusu scored 16 points, dished seven assists and grabbed six rebounds in the January meeting.
With a 6-7 record in conference play, the Terps remain in an unfamiliar position — both in Big Ten and national conversations. Maryland currently ranks eighth in the conference, jumbled among the teams with 7-7 and 7-6 records. The Terps are also on the bubble in many NCAA Tournament projections.
“You have nothing to lose,” Brown-Turner said. “We don’t have any pressure on us so I feel like that makes play harder and makes us want to get after it more.”
Maryland has five games left in the regular season, including two more road games against a pair of ranked Big Ten opponents. While Penn State isn’t ranked it does sit firmly in the NCAA Tournament picture, forecasted somewhere in the 8-10 seed range.
The matchup will be a chance for the Terps to grab a quality win and boost their NCAA Tournament resume.
“There’s too much basketball left and too many opportunities for us,” coach Brenda Frese said. “… This is who we are and we’re trying to get better every time we step out.”
