Box Score LINCOLN, NE – Maryland women's basketball was edged by Nebraska, 87-81, on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Maryland saw its seven-game win streak snapped as the Terps are now 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten.
Senior guard Lavender Briggs scored a Maryland career-high 25 points in her return. Briggs was sidelined since Nov. 25 due to an injury but shined in her return to action. Briggs knocked down 11-of-17 from the floor including 3-of-6 3-pointers.
Riley Nelson added 11 points and
Allie Kubek had 10 points and five rebounds as the Terps shot 50 percent in the game. Three Terps fouled out of the game (
Shyanne Sellers,
Jakia Brown-Turner and
Bri McDaniel).
Down by as many as 10 early in the fourth quarter, Maryland rallied back to within three points several times in the final minutes, but weren't able to get closer. The Terps surrendered 19 second chance points throughout the contest and struggled to match the Huskers' production on the offensive glass.
The first half was tightly contested as neither team led by more than two possessions and there were nine lead changes. The Terps' defense excelled early in the paint by blocking four shots in the first quarter alone.
However, Nebraska pulled ahead in the third quarter, outscoring Maryland 24-16. The Huskers held onto their lead and defeated the Terps for just the second time in their program's history.
Graduate guards Faith Masonius, Brinae Alexander and Briggs each reached significant career milestones. Masonius eclipsed the 700-point mark by scoring eight on the day, Briggs reached 200 assists with a pair in her return and Alexander knocked down her 100th career 3-pointer as a Terp.
The Huskers (10-3, 2-0 Big Ten) rebounded after dropping a game on the road against Kansas. Alexis Markowski led the Huskers with 20 against the Terps. Nebraska is 25th in the NCAA NET Ratings.
Coach Frese's Take
"Tough day for us. We were saddled with foul trouble most of the game, just looking at the box and seeing three players foul out. We knew their size and obviously their rebounding ability - it's elite. They took it to us on the glass all night and did a lot of things that took way from us. They played a great 40 minute game, got a lot of contributions across the board. I thought our bench was huge. Having Lav back healthy and Riley and Faith coming off, I thought we got great minutes coming off the bench but our starters were really impacted."
Breaking Down The Action
- Both teams traded buckets early but Maryland went into the first media timeout having made its last three shots from the floor. Six different Terps had already scored with 3:42 left in the first quarter.
- Both teams reached the bonus with under two minutes left and ended the first quarter tied at 20-20. There were five lead changes during the period and the Terps excelled with their paint defense by blocking four shots.
- Nebraska recorded a 7-0 run midway through the second quarter to pull ahead by six. McDaniel knocked down a long two to stop the run, but the Huskers had success exploiting the Terps from three-point range.
- Maryland entered halftime trailing 39-38. The Terps briefly pulled ahead with a 7-0 run, but a 3-pointer by Jaz Shelley with 30 seconds remaining put the Huskers up by 1. There were nine lead changes and neither team led by more than two possessions in the half.
- Nebraska reached the bonus at the 5:37 mark of the third quarter and Maryland made just one of its last seven shots from the floor. However, a tough layup by Sellers brought the Terps within three points.
- Maryland trailed 63-54 at the end of the third quarter. Nebraska outscored Maryland 24-16 during the period and did a chuck of its damage from the paint where they had several opportunities at second chance points.
- The Terps cut the lead to three points with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but were unable to complete the comeback.
Double-Figure Factors
- Briggs scored 25 points in her return, a Maryland career high. It was her third game this season in double-figures and 64th time in her career. Her career-high is 41 while she was at Florida, against Arkansas (Jan. 14, 2021).
- Nelson scored 11 points, her third time in double-figures in her career.
- Kubek scored in double-figures for the sixth time this season with 10 points. She has now scored 10-plus points in 39 career games with 33 coming at Towson prior to transferring to Maryland.
Records Watch
- With two in the game, Alexander has made 101 three-pointers in her two years as a Terrapin, which is tied for No. 19 all-time. She needs one more to pass Terri Daniels (101 from 2000-03) for No. 18 all-time.
- Masonius eclipsed 700 points in her career after scoring eight points on Sunday. Her career total increased to 705 points.
- Briggs reached 200 career assists after recording two on Sunday.
Numbers To Know
- 11: There were 11 lead changes during the game.
- 25: Briggs scored a Maryland career-best 25 points in the game.
- 68: Sellers remains in the Top 10 in the nation in free throws made with 2-of-2 in the game, giving her 68 on the season.
- 101: Alexander knocked down her 100th career 3-pointer and now has made 101 in her career after hitting two today.
Up Next
- The Terps remain on the road to begin the new year with a matchup against Big Ten foe Minnesota on Jan. 3 in Minneapolis. Tipoff is set for 8:00 pm ET and the game will be televised on Big Ten Plus.
