Preview: No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball prepares for matchup against Northwestern

Now with just five games remaining in the regular season, No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) prepares itselves to face Northwestern (8-15, 1-11 Big Ten) on the road Thursday night.

The Terps are coming off a massive 90-54 slaughter over then-No. 10 Ohio State, a game which they controlled from start to finish.

This was in large part due to senior guard Diamond Miller, who continued her domination versus ranked opponents this season. Miller finished the game with 29 points and 10 rebounds, cementing herself as one of the nations best big time performers.

“I think, you know, she’s by far the best player I’ve ever played with,” senior guard Abby Meyers said.

Miller is averaging 25.4 points per game against ranked opponents, a number that has helped the Terps boast five wins over ranked opponents so far this season. 

The Terps’ win against the Buckeyes was a necessary one, as they were coming off their worst defensive performance of the season on the road versus then-No. 6 Iowa, who scored 96 points in the contest, a season-high allowed by Maryland. 

Maryland’s response was arguably its best defensive performance of the season against the Buckeyes, generating momentum it hopes to continue against the Big Ten’s worst offense in the Wildcats. 

Northwestern has not had half the success that Maryland has garnered so far this season. The Wildcats are 2-10 in their last 12 games and have shown very little signs of turning things around before the Big Ten Tournament with the regular season now waning. 

The Wildcats rank at the bottom of most offensive stats in the Big Ten, including points per game (64.9), field goal percentage (38.5%) and three-point percentage (27.2%). 

Not a single Wildcat is averaging 12 or more points per game. Only two players average in double figures, sophomore forward Caileigh Walsh (11.9) and graduate student guard/forward Sydney Wood (10.9).

To add to it, Northwestern’s defense isn’t the most talented either, allowing 71.6 points per game, fourth-worst in the conference.

One thing Northwestern does have is size, something it uses to its advantage a lot, particularly on the defensive end of the court. 

The single statistic the Wildcats are undisputedly outstanding in is their ability to block shots. Northwestern averages 4.78 blocks per game, just barely sliding it past an unbelievable Indiana defense for the number one spot in the Big Ten. 

Northwestern as a whole is certainly taller than Maryland, and will need to use it as an advantage — both blocking shots and getting boards — if it wishes to keep things close with a Maryland team that has steamrolled opponents at the bottom of the Big Ten standings as of late. 

Still, coach Brenda Frese does not want to underestimate anyone.

“They’ve played everyone competitive,” Frese said. “They’re not going to quit. So you’ve got to be able to come in and, you know, continue to play the best 40 minutes you can play.” 

One very promising sign for the Terps as they get closer to the postseason has been the resurgence of Meyers, who’s strung together a few impressive offensive performances after struggling for a stretch.

Meyers has averaged 20.3 points over the Terps’ last three games with much higher efficiency compared to her previous performances. 

“I’ve been around the game long enough to know that you can have back-to-back games where maybe it doesn’t meet your goals,” Meyers said. “So for me it’s just, continue to stick to my role, continue to bring out [a] positive attitude and the energy that the team needs.” 

Maryland looks to pick up a head of steam into the postseason, starting with the first of its three remaining road games at 8:30 p.m. at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston.