Diamond Miller streaked up the left facet, misplaced one Penn State defender with a pair of fast crossovers, then evaded one other by swinging the ball over the Nittany Lion’s head whereas going right into a Euro step. The Maryland senior completed with a reverse layup, spinning the ball off the glass and sprawling out of bounds.
Maryland
Maryland women roll past Penn State for fifth straight win
The sequence left the Xfinity Middle crowd in awe and summed up the night time for the No. 8 Terrapins, who led for greater than 39 of the 40 minutes Monday and rolled to an 87-66 victory. The win was Maryland’s thirteenth in a row over Penn State.
It may have been simple for Maryland (18-4, 9-2 Large Ten) to miss the Nittany Lions (12-10, 3-8), particularly contemplating the Terps’ grueling upcoming schedule. However they bought dialed in early and by no means relinquished management, closing the primary quarter on a 20-2 run that gave them a 29-9 lead after 10 minutes. The run was spearheaded by senior Abby Meyers (a game-high 24 factors) and Miller (14).
Maryland has gained 5 in a row and 11 of 12. The Terps’ rating is a season excessive, and contemplating what comes subsequent, they look like discovering their stride on the proper time.
“We’re trending in the best route,” guard Shyanne Sellers stated. “I don’t assume our greatest basketball has come but. We haven’t performed a full 40-minute sport the place we’re distinctive.”
What comes subsequent is probably the most treacherous stretch of convention play on Maryland’s schedule, beginning Thursday with a visit to No. 6 Iowa (17-4, 9-1). The Terps host No. 10 Ohio State (19-3, 8-3) on Sunday, and the stretch additionally features a dwelling sport in opposition to Illinois (17-5, 7-4), which fell out of the rankings this week. The convention schedule wraps with rematches in opposition to the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes.
“It’s positively thrilling,” Sellers stated. “Simply, clearly, nice alternatives forward. It actually comes down to only being probably the most disciplined staff.”
The Terps don’t management their very own future. No. 4 Indiana (20-1, 10-1), which beat Maryland in Bloomington on Jan. 12, is within the driver’s seat within the Large Ten. If the Hoosiers win out — on no account a lock contemplating their schedule — the crown is theirs.
Meyers continued to place a current capturing stoop behind her, exhibiting off her offensive versatility by scoring on all three ranges and organising teammates with slick passes. She completed with a team-high six rebounds and three assists.
“Play my function and preserve it easy,” Meyers stated. “And convey the vitality. That’s what I preserve telling myself — to not overthink it.
“You’re going to have a whole lot of completely different video games within the season the place there’s ups and downs. However for me, as a frontrunner, being aggressive on protection and having that management on the defensive finish when offense will not be rolling — that’s form of what I inform myself.”
Miller was a power early with eight first-quarter factors earlier than calling it an evening with 14 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sellers did most of her work within the second half and ended up with 15 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals and a block.
Makenna Marisa led Penn State, which is winless on the street in opposition to Large Ten opponents, with 23 factors. Taniyah Thompson added 17.
“It’s actually exhausting if you’re enjoying in opposition to a staff like Maryland, clearly a top-10 staff,” Penn State Coach Carolyn Kieger stated, “to get down in that deficit after which attempt to claw your method again.”
Right here’s what else to find out about Maryland’s win:
The victory continued a current defensive pattern for the Terps, who stored Penn State in single digits in every of the primary two quarters. Protection has been a trademark of this five-game profitable streak, particularly early. Maryland has held its opponents to single digits in 4 quarters in the course of the streak, and no staff has reached 30 factors within the first half.
“The belief, the connectedness — it’s taken time to have the ability to mesh so many new gamers collectively and train the protection,” Coach Brenda Frese stated. “It’s beginning to actually click on. Our effort and our vitality is quite a bit larger. So I believe the 2 are enjoying off of one another.
“We’re enjoying quite a bit more durable. We all know that’s going to be actually necessary, however I believe our rotations and, defensively, the place we wish to be has actually improved. You’re seeing a mix of each.”
The Large Ten is the lone convention with 4 groups within the high 10 within the Related Press rankings: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Ohio State characterize the league. Two different conferences (the SEC and the Pac-12) have two apiece.
Miller was named to the late-season watch record, which trims the record to twenty gamers, for the Picket Award, which is given to probably the most excellent participant within the nation. The 2-time all-Large Ten guard leads the staff in factors and rebounds.