Takeaways from Maryland women’s basketball’s round of 64 win over Norfolk State

Photo courtesy of Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

After an embarrassing loss in the Big Ten tournament to Michigan, Maryland bounced back in the first round of the NCAA tournament, defeating Norfolk State 82-69. 

The Terps found success despite a sloppy first half to earn Brenda Frese’s 43rd NCAA tournament victory at Maryland. 

Here are the takeaways from the game. 

Two different trajectories

Since the beginning of the new year, Maryland and Norfolk State’s seasons have been entirely different. 

The Spartans came in on a 19-game winning streak, sparked by their best win against Auburn. They went undefeated in conference play throughout the regular season and postseason. 

The Terps had their toughest stretch of games since the new year. Injuries didn’t help: They lost Bri McDaniel in January to a torn ACL, while Shyanne Sellers and Saylor Poffenbarger battled nagging injuries of their own. 

Both teams followed these trends in the first half, but Norfolk State played with more energy and effort and took a two-point lead into halftime. However, Maryland flipped the script in the second half, earning their 24th victory of the season. 

“I thought at halftime we were able to reset and take a deep breath, and a lot of these kids first time on the big stage kind of settle in,” said Frese. “I thought our defense controlled things. We were able to get more shots.” 

Second half surge

Maryland came out firing in the second half with its season on the line. After trailing by two heading into the break, the Terps scored on their first six possessions of the second half and matched their first-half total with 30 points in the third quarter. 

The Terps used three-point positions – Te-Biasu knocked down two threes, a Kaylene Smikle and one, and drew multiple fouls on three-pointers—to combat the Spartans’ aggressiveness.

“Every possession mattered,” Smikle said. “We started off slow but we picked it up, and we did much better in the second half. We played more together; we were more aggressive.” 

The Terps’ approach changed from shying away from contact to driving right into it. Smikle led this change, scoring ten third-quarter points while driving to the basket and drawing multiple fouls, as the Terps took an eight-point lead into the fourth. 

After a scoreless first two minutes, the three-ball was the answer again to start the fourth quarter. The Terp’s first 12 points came from a three-point range – with two each from Te-Biasu and Smikle – as the Terps put the game out of reach. 

Te-Biasu and Smikle lead the way

Te-Biasu came in playing her best basketball of the season. With the Terps’ injury issues, her role has increased, and she has played all 40 minutes in multiple games and scored 22 points with six three-pointers in Saturday’s matchup. 

Smikle, the Terp’s leading scorer, made her first NCAA tournament appearance and stepped up when it mattered most, scoring 21 points while going a perfect nine for nine from the free-throw line. 

“This first half I was a little nervous,” said Smikle. “My first March game and I played normal because [Frese] told me to play my game and play free.” 

Both guards struggled in the first half. Te-Biasu scored just six points in the first half, while Smikle had only three on 1-5 shooting. However, the second half was a different story. 

Te-Biasu scored 16, including the first six in the second half, while Smikle scored 18 to lead the Terps to victory. 

“We were able to get some back-to-back with Sarah’s threes we got [Smikle] going,” said Frese. “In the tournament, everyone has to show up in order to be successful.”