Shyanne Sellers drove to the basket midway through the fourth quarter against Purdue on Sunday.
The junior spun around and took a small step back. The ball floated over two Boilermaker defenders’ heads, sailing into the basket. Sellers had hit a milestone — she became the 38th Terp in program history to reach the 1,000 point milestone.
That basket was one of five that Sellers connected on in Maryland’s rout of Purdue in its most complete performance this season. But the season is still a long way from being complete.
“I think it’s cool,” Sellers said. “I’m happy I got it on a win and at home but obviously we just have a lot more to do.”
Sellers reached the milestone despite a pedestrian afternoon for the Terps’ leading scorer and star point guard. Sellers didn’t even score her first basket until the second quarter before finishing Sunday afternoon with 12 points, two rebounds and five assists.
Entering the season Sellers was expected to be the star for Maryland’s after it lost a pair of WNBA first round draft picks in Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers. Sellers has done exactly that this year, averaging career bests in points per game (16.7), rebounds per game (5.9), assists per game (5.3), steals per game (1.9) and blocks per game (0.8).
The Ohio native’s usage has gone up, taking slightly more field goals, three-pointers and free throws per game on average. Her 86.5 percent free throw rate is nearly six percent better than last season.
Sellers garnered many honors throughout her first two collegiate campaigns — an All-Big Ten Freshman Team honoree and the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year in 2022, and a spot on the All-Big Ten Defensive Team and selections to both the media and coaches All-Big Ten teams in 2023. Sellers has a great chance to add to her resume this season.
Ever since Sellers joined the starting lineup in a consistent role in November 2022 she has remained a staple in the Terps’ offense with her ability to score, rebound and dish out assists to her teammates. Her versatility helped her reach this milestone in 83 games.
“I had no idea that I was even close,” Sellers said.
While Sellers had no idea about the milestone, her coach did. Brenda Frese purposefully designed that play for Sellers.
“When she was two points away she was [in] facilitator [mode] so I had to get her into getting that point,” Frese said.
Sellers’ scoring milestone wasn’t the only feat she accomplished on Sunday. A Faith Masonius jumper in the first quarter — assisted by Sellers — gave Sellers her 300th assist in her Maryland career. She’s 15 rebounds away from 400.
This year Sellers has developed into the Terps’ true number one option on the offensive end. She is the first Terp since Alyssa Thomas in 2012-2013 to lead Maryland in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
The Terps will only go as far as Sellers can take them this season. She is Maryland’s newest star.
