COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Freshman Taylor Mikesell scored 17 points, freshman Shakira Austin had 13 points,15 rebounds and seven blocks, and No. 9 Maryland used a strong finish to get past Michigan 83-69 Saturday.
 
The Terrapins led 55-54 before five different players scored in a 13-4 run that made it 68-58 with 5 minutes left, part of a 30-point fourth quarter for Maryland.
 
The victory thrust the Terrapins into sole possession of second place in the Big Ten, a half-game behind Rutgers.
 
"We knew this game was going to come down to rebounding and toughness," head coach Brenda Frese said. "I mean, when you have the two best rebounding teams in the conference going at it, you just know that Michigan is going to bring that mentality, but I loved our response.
 
"We kind of had to settle in to that first half, but I love our response out of the locker room. I can't say enough. The balance when you look at all five players in double figures, the spark and the energy with Sara [Vujacic] coming off the bench ready when her number was called, and obviously these two special freshmen [Taylor Mikesell and Shakira Austin]. The contributions they had where Shakira had almost a triple-double. You talk about the growth for Taylor, not only from a scoring end and everything we ask her to do."
 
Hallie Thome had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Michigan (11-6, 2-3). It was the third double-double for the 6-foot-5 senior and second in two games.
 
Sophomore Channise Lewis doled out 11 assists for the Terps, junior Blair Watson scored 14 and junior Stephanie Jones added 13.
 
Maryland committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter, then just two the rest of the way.
 
The Terps made five 3-pointers in the second quarter to wipe out a seven-point deficit and take a 35-34 halftime lead.
 
Austin had four points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in the opening five minutes, but Michigan forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter and used runs of 9-0 and 8-0 to move in front 21-14.
 
It was 25-19 before  Lewis and Mikesell hit successive 3-pointers to spark an 11-2 spurt.
 
Maryland led 41-39 before Thome scored seven points in a 13-5 run that put Michigan ahead 52-46. Austin then scored five straight points, and Mikesell hit a runner to provide the Terps a 53-52 lead entering the fourth quarter. It was a 7-0 run by the freshmen.
 
Next, the Terrapins will take on #17/24 Michigan State (12-3, 2-2) Thursday at 6 p.m. in East Lansing.
 
The Terps-Spartans game will be televised around the world on the Big Ten Network. Click here for your channel number for BTN. Fans can also watch the Maryland-Michigan matchup at BTN2Go.com and the BTN2Go app with their cable login information. Fans outside the U.S. can watch here. Live stats will also be available.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

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