COLLEGE PARK, Md.  –   Junior Kaila Charles made a buzzer-beating layup to cap a furious comeback by No. 8 Maryland to take a 71-69 victory over Minnesota Thursday night. The Terrapins (24-3, 13-3 B1G) went on a 9-0 run over the final 50 seconds to seal the win.
 
The Terps trailed 54-38 in the third quarter, by 11 with 8:59 remaining and 67-60 with 1:58 to go before closing with an 11-2 run against the stunned Golden Gophers (19-8, 8-8).
 
Charles scored a season-high 29 points, 21 in the second half, with eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Charles scored six of the Terrapins' nine points in that final run. Freshman Taylor Mikesell hit five threes, including two in the final 6:10, and finished with 15 points. Freshman Shakira Austin pulled down 13 rebounds.
 
"You know this really ranks up there in just a special, special win for us," head coach Brenda Frese said. "Just loved the way we had to fight, claw, and scratch. I think it speaks volumes to the character and the competitiveness in the locker room.
 
"I said this in the locker room, you always want that to play out the way it did for Kaila tonight, the responsibility that she holds and wants, the ownership. To come off of a tough game at Iowa, to flip it that quickly to end the game is why she is such a tremendous winner and competitor and why we trust her so much. Just a night we all wont forget."
 
Charles made a game-tying layup with 6.6 seconds left. After Minnesota got the ball past midcourt and called a timeout, freshman Shakira Austin deflected the inbounds pass to Charles, who drove the length of the floor for the game-winning basket.
 
Destiny Pitts scored 24 and Kenisha Bell added 23 for the Golden Gophers. Pitts, a sophomore guard, has scored at least 21 in four straight games. But she fouled out in the final minute, and Minnesota couldn't survive without her.
 
With the win, the Terrapins secured a double-bye and top four seed in the Big Ten Tournament March 6-10 in Indianapolis. No. 10 Iowa lost at Indiana Thursday night and the Terps own a one-game lead atop the Big Ten standings.
 
In the last two weeks, Charles was named to the Citizen Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, the Cheryl Miller Award Final 10, the Wade Watch List and the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20.
 
As a program, Maryland has earned a record of 996-425 (.701) and needs four wins to reach 1,000. Only nine Division I women's basketball programs have reached 1,000 wins.
 
Next, the Terps will hit the road once more to take on Purdue (17-11, 8-7) Monday at 6:30 p.m. in West Lafayette, Ind. The Terps-Boilermakers matchup will be televised around the world on the Big Ten Network.
 
 The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

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