MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Third-seeded and fifth-ranked Maryland (25-6) lost to second-seeded and seventh-ranked Iowa (25-6) in the Big Ten Women's Basketball Semifinals, 89-84. Despite cutting an early 12-point lead down to as many as two in the first half, and tying things late in the second half, the Terps couldn't prevail.

Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers led Maryland in scoring with 21 points each, Miller getting 12 of those points from the foul line where she shot 12-of-16. Meyers was 7-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Faith Masonius and Shayne Sellers each finished with 10 points for the Terps as well.

After Iowa started out the game with a 21-9 lead, Maryland cut the lead quickly to as close as  21-15 in the first quarter, and in the second quarter, a 10-0 run from the Terps took a double-digit lead from the Hawkeyes to two at 40-38. Brianae Alexander scored her first points of the game during that run, knocking down two three-pointers.

Some back-and-forth scoring from both teams resulted in a high-scoring first half with Iowa taking a 47-42 lead at the half, a much more manageable deficit for the Terps than their slow start to begin the game.

Maryland continued to find ways to cut into the lead, using balanced scoring early in the second half to cut the deficit to 52-51 with 7:03 left in the third quarter, a quick 7-2 run thanks to Meyers, Masonius and Lavender Briggs. The closest the Terps would get for the rest of the quarter was down 61-59 with 1:19 left after Miller knocked down two free throws at the line.

The fourth quarter featured much of the same back-and-forth battle that preceded it, but Maryland was able to tie things up at 79-79 with 2:19 left after four-straight points from Masonius. Iowa went on a 6-0 run of its own to build the lead back up, but thanks to some sharp-shooting and a late three from Briggs, the Terps trailed just 85-84 with under 26 seconds left.

Iowa (24-6) was led by Caitlin Clark, who scored 22 points. Clark started out the game red-hot, shooting 3-of-3 from beyond the arc for nine points. She finished the first half with 16 points, shooting 6-of-11 in the half and shot 7-of-18 overall. All five starters for the Hawkeyes finished in double-figures, getting 21 points each from McKenna Warnock and Gabbie Marshall, who was 7-of-13 from beyond the arc for Iowa.

Breaking Down The Action

• Maryland got into a 21-9 hole in the first quarter after a quick nine points from Clark, shooting 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
• The Terps rattled off a quick 6-0 run to cut the score to 21-15, four of those points scored from Miller.
• Iowa out-scored Maryland, 5-3, to end the first, up 26-18.
• Maryland scored four-straight to cut the lead to 29-25, its smallest deficit since 11-9 early in the first quarter.
• Down 38-28 after an 11-3 run from Iowa, Maryland cut the deficit to 40-38 after a 10-0 run, including two threes from Alexander, her first points of the game.
• Trading baskets late in the second quarter, Iowa re-extended its lead to 47-42 going into the half, with four points from Sellers in the final 2:58. 
• Maryland cut the lead to 52-51 early in the third quarter off a 7-2 run in under 1:30.
• Meyers hit a jumper with 39 seconds left in the third as the Terps trailed Iowa, 64-61, heading into the fourth quarter.
• Miller drew a number of fouls in the fourth quarter, scoring five-straight points for the Terps at one point as Maryland trailed, 79-75, with 3:12 left.
• Maryland tied things up at 79-79 off a layup from Masonius with 2:19 left, further cutting the deficit to 85-84 off a turnover from Iowa and a Briggs three with 25 seconds left.
• Iowa sealed the deal with free throws late to go up 89-84 as Maryland missed a three-pointer to tie things up with under six seconds left in regulation.

1,000 Point Update 

• Miller moved to 12th in career scoring at Maryland as she now has 1,629. She passed Lynetta Kizer (1,621 from 2008-12). Next on the list at No. 11 with 1,630 points is Marcia Richardson (1979-84).
• Meyers now has 1,398  points in her career, with 947 in her three seasons of action at Princeton before joining the Terps this season. 
• Three other Terps also have 1,000 career points: Lavender Briggs 1,181, Brinae Alexander 1,110 and Elisa Pinzan 1,025

Double-Figures Update

• With 21 points, Miller reached double-figures for the 29th time in 30 games played this season. She's recorded 10 points or more 84 times in her career of 113 games.
• Meyers netted 21 points for her 25th game in double-figures and her 76th on her career with 51 coming at Princeton. 
• With 10 points against Iowa, Faith Masonius reached double-figures for seventh time this season and the 20th time in her Maryland career. 
• Sellers also reached double-figures with 10 points, doing so for the 24th time this season and 37th time in just two seasons in College Park.

Up Next

• Maryland will await its seeding in the NCAA Tournament at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 12, as part of Selection Sunday on ESPN. The selection show will be televised on ESPN and the ESPN App.