No. 7 Maryland women’s basketball narrowly escapes No. 16 Ohio State, 76-74, in regular-season finale

With 4.7 seconds remaining within the fourth quarter and No. 7 Maryland girls’s basketball main 76-74, No. 16 Ohio State acquired the ball at mid court docket with an opportunity to tie the sport or take the lead.

Ohio State guard Taylor Thierry launched an off-balance jumpshot that air balled. Freshman guard Cotie McMahon tried a putback, however the clock struck zero earlier than the ball went by means of the online.

The Terps escaped with a 76-74 victory on Friday to finish the common season at 24-5 and 15-3 in Massive Ten play. Maryland can be both the 2 or three seed within the Massive Ten Event beginning on March 1.

Maryland senior guard Abby Meyers led all scorers with 24 factors and made a number of essential buckets in its highway triumph.

Maryland and Ohio State began sluggish, as each groups appeared to dictate tempo from the opening tip.

Maryland senior guard Abby Meyers scored the primary factors on a pump faux and dribble drive to the rim.

With each groups even at 4 halfway by means of the primary quarter, Maryland star guard Diamond Miller slashed to the lane for a simple take a look at the rim.

The Terps went on a 6-0 run after a pair of Abby Meyers’ layups and Miller’s aggressive assault to the rim in transition.

Maryland’s 12-6 lead pressured a fast Ohio State timeout.

With beneath 10 seconds within the opening quarter and trailing 15-14, Ohio State guard Taylor Mikesell dribbled laborious to her proper earlier than abruptly stopping for her jumpshot.

Mikesell’s shot bounced in to offer the Buckeyes a 16-15 lead following the primary 10 minutes of motion.

Maryland went 7-for-16 from the sphere, whereas it’s counterparts went 8-of-15 within the opening interval. The Terps scored 4 factors on 5 Ohio State turnovers within the first 10 minutes.

Maryland began the second quarter quick, as Miller scored a layup in beneath 15 seconds on a powerful drive to the rim.

McMahon continued her sizzling begin within the second interval, however this time from three-point vary.

Ohio State junior guard Ricki Harris pushed the tempo in transition, as she discovered McMahon on the left wing. McMahon wasted little movement, as she drained her first 3-pointer of the sport.

Alexander, a 44.3% three-point shooter, continued to make the protection pay from distance.

With beneath eight minutes till intermission, Alexander knocked down her second three of the half to increase the Terps result in 24-19.

A number of possessions later, Mikesell transformed a 3-pointer to chop into Maryland’s lead.

On the Terps’ subsequent possession, Alexander stored the recent streak going, as she pale away from a display screen and sunk her third 3-pointer of the primary half. Alexander’s triple gave Maryland a 30-25 lead. The Vanderbilt switch had 11 factors after the primary 20 minutes of play.

After a pair of missed Ohio State free throws, Alexander pushed the tempo in transition earlier than delivering a bounce move to senior guard Elisa Pinzan for a layup.

On Ohio State’s subsequent two possessions, the Buckeyes appeared to ascertain the inside presence of six foot 4 senior ahead Rebeka Mikulasikova.

Mikulasikova effortlessly scored on a pair of layups within the paint to trim Maryland’s result in 36-31.

With beneath 20 seconds till intermission, Meyers pivoted and completed with a left hand floater to offer the Terps a 38-33 lead on the half.

After shedding the rebounding margin by 4 within the first quarter, Maryland responded with a 10-6 benefit within the second quarter.

Ohio State started the second half trying to get proper again into the sport.

On the very first possession within the third quarter, Mikulasikova displayed her dynamic presence, this time, swishing in a 3 pointer to trim Ohio State’s deficit to 38-36.

On Maryland’s subsequent two possessions, Miller and Meyers maneuvered their approach into the paint for layups to increase its result in 42-36.

After a layup by senior ahead Religion Masonius, Ohio State marched down the ground trying to make Maryland pay in transition.

The back-and-forth affair continued all through the third interval.

With beneath two minutes remaining within the third quarter, Ohio State secured its tenth offensive rebound. Mikesell, standing on the high of the important thing, stepped into the shot and drilled one other three to offer the Buckeyes a 63-58 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

Ohio State outscored Maryland 30-20 and made 5-of-8 pictures from distance within the third interval.

Maryland started the ultimate quarter with an emphasis to get again into the sport.

With beneath a minute expired within the fourth quarter, Meyers scored a 3 pointer and on the next possession raced down the court docket for a layup after a steal. Meyers’ personal 5-0 run evened the sport at 63 with over 9 minutes in regulation.

After Mikesell’s free throws pushed the result in 65-63, Thierry led a one-woman quick break to stretch their lead.

Maryland trailed Ohio State 69-67 with beneath six minutes to play.

The Terps went on a 8-0 run to reclaim a 73-69 lead with beneath 5 minutes left in regulation.

A basic Massive Ten battle ensued down the stretch with each groups in search of any edge to shut out the common season with a win.

Ultimately, Maryland narrowly got here out on high on the highway.

Three issues to know

1. The Terps full the season sweep of Ohio State to finish the common season. Maryland had one of many hardest three-game stretches within the nation to finish the common season. The Terps confronted Michigan State, No. 6 Iowa, and No. 16 Iowa; with two of three being on the highway. Maryland swept its three sport slate and prolonged their win streak to 6 with a slim 76-74 victory over Ohio State. When was the final time Maryland had two or extra victories over Ohio State? It was the 2019-20 season when the Terps defeated their Massive Ten counterparts 3 times en path to its newest Massive Ten Event Championship.
2. Abby Meyers’ clutch efficiency saved the day. When the Terps go to opposing arenas, discovering a method to comprise senior guard Diamond Miller ought to be on the forefront of sport plans. On Friday, Miller sat for a protracted interval after selecting up her fourth foul within the third quarter. However Maryland relied on the scoring of senior guard Abby Meyers to will it to victory.
3. The Massive Ten Event is subsequent. With the common season within the rearview, Maryland can set its sights on the Massive Ten Event, starting on March 1 on the Goal Heart in Minneapolis. The end result of Sunday’s tilt between No. 2 Indiana and No. 6 Iowa will decide whether or not Maryland is the 2 or three seed.