No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball outlasts Michigan State, 66-61

No. 8 Maryland girls’s basketball was clinging onto a 64-61 lead with 16 seconds remaining, and Michigan State was set to inbound the ball.

Spartans guard DeeDee Hagemann had a search for a game-tying 3-pointer, which was off the mark. Maryland senior guard/ahead Religion Masonius hit the game-icing free throws, and the Terps escaped with a 66-61 victory on the Breslin Heart in East Lansing, Michigan, on Saturday.

Maryland senior guard Diamond Miller led all scorers with 29 factors, because the Terps prolonged their profitable streak to 4. Maryland moved to 13-3 in Large Ten play and achieved 10 street wins for the primary time because the 2018-19 season.

“I believe clearly we’re upset within the play tonight. I’ll say typically when you could find a approach to win, it’s additionally a lens particularly in a very emotional recreation for each groups,” Maryland head coach Brenda Frese mentioned. “We had been capable of safe a double-bye, which was our first purpose as we proceed to maneuver ahead. We’re going to should play rather a lot higher and we’re gonna have to complete out video games. 20 to 12 isn’t the quarter that we wish to have to complete video games.”

Maryland and Michigan State struggled to generate offense by means of the primary two minutes of play with a mere mixed level.

With fewer than seven minutes remaining within the opening quarter, Maryland senior guard Elisa Pinzan launched a full-court go to Masonius. The latter used one dribble earlier than a nifty spin to complete a layup regardless of being fouled. The Terps took an early 3-0 lead.

A couple of minutes later and the sport even at 5, Maryland senior guard Abby Meyers dribbled laborious in transition earlier than discovering Miller for a simple layup.

Michigan State proceeded to go on a 7-0 run, led by two free throws and a 3-pointer by senior guard Moira Joiner.

The Terps trailed 14-9 after the opening 10 minutes, recording a 3-for-15 efficiency from the sector. Miller scored 5 of the Terps’ first-quarter factors because the others struggled so as to add to the scoring bunch.

Nevertheless, Maryland responded in another way within the second quarter and let or not it’s identified from its first possession. Senior guard Brinae Alexander drained two free throws after drawing contact on an aggressive drive to the rim, and a pair possessions later, Meyers maneuvered her method into the lane for a layup to cap off a 7-2 run for Maryland and tie the sport at 16.

Previous to the second-quarter media timeout, Hagemann drilled a 3-pointer to offer the Spartans a 20-16 benefit.

Miller started to impose her will on the inside protection of Michigan State. After main her personal 5-0 run, Maryland’s offense started to click on. With underneath two minutes left within the first half, versatile ahead Religion Masonius’ 3-pointer and layup gave Maryland a 27-26 heading into halftime.

The Terps’ duo of Miller and Masonius mixed for 20 factors to attempt to fight a sluggish begin on the street, whereas Maryland’s protection took heart stage in limiting Michigan State to a 3-for-13 displaying from the sector together with forcing 5 turnovers within the second quarter.

The second half began with Miller trying to create prompt offense for herself and her teammates.

After a pair of buckets by Miller, she secured a defensive rebound and dribbled up the left sideline. Miller discovered senior guard Lavender Briggs for a layup in transition to increase Maryland’s benefit to 36-29.

On the following possession, Meyers capped off a 13-3 run with a four-point play following a foul on a nook 3-pointer. The Terps prolonged their result in 10.

About midway by means of the third quarter, Michigan State guard Matilda Ekh drilled a 3-pointer to trim its deficit to 40-34.

Maryland’s offense would improve its depth, which paid dividends to its execution. The Terps marched on a 11-4 run after a pair of threes by Meyers and senior guard Brinae Alexander.

A 3-pointer by Michigan State guard Julia Ayrault trimmed Maryland’s result in 54-41 heading into the ultimate quarter of play.

The Spartans began the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run with 5 coming from Ekh.

“They’re sturdy [and] they’re resilient. They didn’t cease. They didn’t care what the rating was. They performed the identical method the entire time, which is one thing we have to do. However I believe general, they attacked us and so they weren’t afraid of us right this moment,” Miller mentioned.

With underneath three minutes left within the recreation, Miller completed a bucket within the lane regardless of being fouled. The 6-foot-3 guard transformed the three-point play to increase Maryland’s result in 63-54.

With a minute in regulation, Michigan State responded with a pair of 3-pointers by Ayrault to chop its deficit to 63-61.

Meyers was fouled with 22 seconds left, going simply 1-of-2 from the charity stripe and leaving the door open for the Spartans. Hagemann’s game-tying likelihood was off, although, and the Terps closed out an vital street victory.

Maryland returns to School Park on Tuesday night time for a showdown with Caitlin Clark and No. 7 Iowa.

Three issues to know

1. Maryland picked up its tenth street victory for the primary time since 2018-19. The Terps as soon as once more bought off to a sluggish begin, however recovered within the second quarter to create a transparent line of separation between the pair of Large Ten groups. After dominating the third quarter by a 27-15 margin, Maryland struggled to place away Michigan State, as the sport was inside one possession late into the fourth quarter. The Terps have been sensational on the street, struggling simply two losses – each to top-six groups on the time.

2. Defensive second quarter. After being restricted to only 9 first-quarter factors, Maryland flipped the script within the second body. The Terps regained management by holding the Spartans to only 12 second-quarter factors. Michigan State shot 23.1% from the sector and 1-for-6 from the sector within the second quarter.

3. A Tuesday night time showdown is up subsequent. Maryland’s sluggish begin was its Achilles’ heel in its 96-82 loss to Iowa on Feb. 2. Large Ten Participant of the 12 months favourite Caitlin Clark torched the protection to the tune of 42 factors, seven rebounds and eight assists. The Terps couldn’t report constant defensive stops in Iowa, however now the rematch shifts to School Park. Maryland is 10-2 at XFINITY Heart and can look to take down its sixth top-25 opponent this season.