The Terps narrowly defeated the Spartans.
No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball played its first game in 10 days Sunday afternoon, as it welcomed No. 19 Michigan State to Xfinity Center. In a back-and-forth affair, Maryland prevailed, winning 72-66 to improve to 12-0.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
A statement victory
Early in its season, Maryland won a measuring stick game against former conference rival No. 14 Duke. Since then, Maryland has rolled through its schedule en route to an 11-0 record entering Sunday’s game, but without another test against a ranked opponent.
Even then, the Terps got into dog fights with lower-level opponents like Purdue. But a matchup with Michigan State gave the Terps a chance to further prove they belong in the top 10.
“This will be the hardest conference slate we’ve ever faced,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “The more wins you can rack up home and away, that’s huge for the NET (rankings).”
Despite facing a long layoff since a high-level game, the Terps executed calmly down the stretch when Michigan State tied the game multiple times in the fourth quarter.
Maryland’s resilience will be further tested in January with five ranked matchups on deck.
Defensive dominance
When Maryland’s offense got cold, which it did multiple times, it leaned on defensive execution to hold off Michigan State.
The Terps limited the Spartans to 25% shooting from deep and 32.4% shooting from the field, both well below their season averages. They also forced 16 turnovers, resulting in 21 Maryland points.
No play better exemplified Maryland’s defensive success than Christina Dalce’s game-sealing block in the fourth quarter. Theryn Hallock, the game’s leading scorer, drove past Bri McDaniel but right into Dalce, who defended the rim in Maryland’s 2-3 zone defense. Dalce came down with a big swat and snatched the ball before it went out of bounds, effectively securing Maryland’s win.
“I thought it was one of our better defensive efforts of the season,” Frese said. “You could tell the will to really get stops.”
Sellers recorded two steals, while Dalce and Saylor Poffenbarger tallied two blocks apiece. Allie Kubek has also excelled since being moved to the bench in favor of Poffenbarger, allowing Frese to bring in Kubek and Bri McDaniel to provide defensive relief for the starters.
“[Kubek] brought great toughness on both ends of the floor,” Frese said.
Offensive concerns
Maryland scored enough to win, but its offense hit some concerning lulls throughout the game.
The Terps went scoreless for nearly the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, allowing Michigan State to tie the game and multiple chances to take a lead.
One offensive issue that has reared its head throughout the season has been turnovers. Maryland committed 25 turnovers Sunday, and Sellers led the team with seven.
“They’re a team that turns you over a lot,” Frese said. “The mistakes kind of came on our own against the press.”
Kaylene Smikle led Maryland with 19 points, while Poffenbarger followed with 14 and manufactured buckets when the Terps needed it most, including a clutch three to end their fourth-quarter drought.
“Getting the momentum back on our side was really important for us. I think that shot did that,” Poffenbarger said.
Starters Dalce and Sarah Te-Biasu combined for just six points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field.
Maryland survived the Spartans, but if it falls victim to similar offensive slumps against No. 1 UCLA or No. 5 Texas, it could cost the Terps.