#1 Maryland (22-2) vs. #5 Northwestern (15-7)
Big Ten Semifinals
March 12, 2021
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Ind.)
2:00 pm EDT
INDIANAPOLIS - The seventh-ranked and top-seeded Maryland women's basketball team (22-2) will take on No. 5-seeded Northwestern (15-7) Friday at 2 p.m. in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Terps-Wildcats game will be televised on FS2. Click
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2020-21 STORYLINES
What's UP
- No. 7/8 Maryland won its third straight Big Ten title and sixth in seven years since joining the league last weekend. The Terrapins beat Penn State, 88-61 in the regular season finale in College Park.
- Brenda Frese was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her eight years in the league. Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller earned All-Big Ten First Team honors and Katie Benzan was named to the Second Team. Chloe Bibby and Mimi Collins earned Honorable Mention honors, Angel Reese was named to the All-Freshman Team and Channise Lewis earned a Sportsmanship Award.
- The Terrapins beat Nebraska, 83-73, in a tight game in the Big Ten Quarterfinals Thursday. Ashley Owusu scored 19 of her 22 points in the second half, along with 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Chloe Bibby and Diamond Miller each scored 18 points and Mimi Collins added 17.
- The Terrapins are averaging 91.3 points per game coming into the tournament, which is leading the country and the highest in program history. The NCAA D1 scoring record is 96.7 points per game by Providence in 1991. Maryland is the only team in the country with six scoring in double figures.
- Coming into the tournament, Maryland is No. 2 in the nation in three-point FG percentage (.412), No. 2 in assist/turnover ratio (1.6), No. 4 in field goal percentage (.490), No. 7 in assists (19.9), No. 7 in scoring margin (+21.0) and No. 9 in FT percentage (.790). Katie Benzan leads the country in 3-point FG percentage (.516) and Owusu is 10th in assists (134).
- The Terrapins are on pace to top program records in three-point FG percentage (.403 in 1988-89), FT percentage (.758 in 2014-15) and assists per game (19.8 in 2016-17). Owusu and Miller are on pace to top the record for points averaged by a sophomore in program history (17.8 by Kaila Charles in 2017-18).
- In the Feb. 28 NCAA Reveal, the Terps were the No. 6 overall seed and a No. 2 seed. The Terrapins have four wins over ranked teams this season - 115-96 over No. 14 Arkansas, 84-80 over No. 19 Indiana, 93-87 over No. 23 Michigan State and 88-63 at No. 12 Michigan. Maryland also has 8 Quad-1 wins, 2 Quad-2 wins and its only two losses are Quad-1 losses, both to teams in top 25 of NET & AP rankings.
50 seasons of excellence
- The University of Maryland women's basketball program will celebrate its 50th varsity season in 2020-21, and will honor the program's rich tradition and history throughout the year. Maryland played its first full varsity season in 1971-72, under the leadership of pioneer Dottie McKnight. During its storied history, the program has won 1,051 games, amassed 44 winning seasons, won 23 conference championships, made 37 postseason appearances and captured the 2006 National Championship
frese file
- Head coach Brenda Frese is in her 19th season in College Park. She's led the Terrapins to a record of 508-130 (.796), 13 conference titles, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 17 postseasons, three Final Fours, six Elite Eights, six Sweet Sixteens and the 2006 NCAA Championship.
- With the Terrapins' win at Nebraska on Feb. 14, Brenda Frese picked up win No. 500 at Maryland, which makes her the winningest coach in Maryland basketball history. Hall of Fame women's basketball head coach Chris Weller won 499 games in her 27 seasons (1975-02).
terps in the polls
- Maryland is one of the most consistent winning programs in the country. The Terrapins have been ranked in 210 straight Associated Press polls, dating back to the preseason poll of the 2010-11 season. That mark is behind just Baylor (335 weeks) and Connecticut (525 weeks).
- Maryland has been ranked for 261 weeks in the last 17 seasons, with 202 of those weeks in the AP top 10 and 90 in the AP top 5.
SERIES HISTORY
- Maryland is 17-2 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament after winning the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 Tournament titles.
- The Terps are 14-2 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and head coach Brenda Frese is 17-3 in the Tournament.
- Maryland is 2-0 vs. Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament.
Click here for this week's game notes.
