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University of Maryland Athletics

Kaylene Smikle
66
Michigan St. MSU 11-2,1-1 Big Ten
72
Winner Maryland MD 12-0,2-0 Big Ten
Michigan St. MSU
11-2,1-1 Big Ten
66
Final
72
Maryland MD
12-0,2-0 Big Ten
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Michigan St. MSU 11 19 18 18 66
Maryland MD 20 21 16 15 72

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

No. 8 Terps Down No. 19 Spartans, 72-66, Remain Undefeated

COLLEGE PARK, MD – No. 8 Maryland women's basketball picked up its second ranked win of the season, defeating No. 19 Michigan State, 72-66, at XFINITY Center on Sunday. The win also advanced Maryland to 12-0 overall and 2-0 in conference action, their best unbeaten streak to begin a season since also starting 12-0 during the 2018-19 season.  

Maryland led by as many as 17 (37-20) at 4:09 in the second quarter after creating a series of small scoring runs. Michigan State later tied the game at 57 apiece at 5:34 in the fourth quarter. However, the Terps never faltered their lead, as Kaylene Smikle and Christina Dalce made clutch shots from the floor in the final minute. 
  Smikle was one of four players to score in double-figures. She led the Terps in scoring for the eighth time this season, recording 19 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists.

Saylor Poffenbarger added her 17th career double-double, scoring 14 points and collecting 10 rebounds. It was her fourth double-double as a Terp. Shyanne Sellers contributed another signature all-around performance. She scored 11 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds. 

Bri McDaniel (12 points, three rebounds and three assists) and Allie Kubek (nine points and three rebounds) were other standouts. Dalce scored just two points but was a major factor with 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal.   
  The Terps outrebounded the Spartans 44-37. They have won the rebounding battle in all 12 games this season. They have also created 16 turnovers and forced 13 or more in every game.  

No. 19 Michigan State (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten) was led by Theryn Hallock (20 points) and Julia Ayrault (17 points). Head coach Brenda Frese earned her 97th ranked victory as Maryland's head coach, and the Terps improved to 19-3 all-time against the Spartans. 


Breaking Down The Action
  • Michigan State scored the first five points of the game, but Maryland went on a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer by Allie Kubek and four points from Kaylene Smikle. The Terps then led 11-9 at the first media timeout. 
  • Maryland sparked an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the first quarter and held Michigan State scoreless for nearly four minutes. It led 20-11 entering the second, with Shyanne Sellers shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor. 
  • Sellers caught a pass in mid-air and dished out a behind-the-back bounce pass to Bri McDaniel, who finished the play with a layup at 6:38. The play was part of another strong quarter by the Terps, as they led 41-30 at halftime. 
  • The Spartans cut Maryland's lead to as little as four but trailed 49-44 at the third-quarter media timeout. 
  • Michigan State cut the lead to 50-46 at 3:02, but Maryland went on a 7-0 run to go back up by double figures. The Spartans called a timeout at 1:23, and the Terps led 57-46. 
  • The Spartans tied the game at 57 apiece at 5:34 in the first. Saylor Poffenbarger's 3-pointer gave Maryland its lead back, 60-57, at the media timeout.
  • A clutch jumper finished through contact by Smikle put Maryland in front 68-63 with a minute left to play. The Terps then closed out the game from the free-throw line.      
Double-Figure Factors
  • Kaylene Smikle scored 19 points, her 49th career double-figure game. This was her 11th consecutive game netting double-digit points as a Terp. 
  • Saylor Poffenbarger tallied 14 points for her 33rd career game in double figures. It was her sixth game scoring double-figures as a Terp and fifth game in a row.
  • Bri McDaniel scored 12 points for her 29th game scoring in double figures. She has scored double figures in seven games this season.
  • Shyanne Sellers scored 11 points, recording her 77th career game in double figures. She has scored double-figures in 10 games this season and eight games in a row. 
Unstoppable Start 
  • Maryland advanced to 12-0 this season. This is Maryland's best unbeaten streak to begin a season since also starting 12-0 during the 2018-19 season. 
  • In 2018-19, the Terps finished 29-5 with a trip to the Big Ten Championship game and NCAA Tournament Second Round. 
  • The Terrapins' best unbeaten streak to begin a season was 18-0 in 2006-07.                         
Frese Vs. Ranked Teams 
  • Since Brenda Frese took over in 2002-03, Maryland has 97 wins over Associated Press top 25 teams, including 11 in the 2014-15 season, which set a new school record.
  • Most recently, Maryland beat No. 11 Duke, 85-80, on Nov. 10, 2024 in College Park.
  • The Terps were 9-5 vs. ranked teams in 2022-23.
  • The Terrapins are 97-83 against ranked teams over the last 23 years, all under Frese. Twenty-seven of those wins were on the road,d and 23 were at neutral sites
Sellers On The Charts 
  • Shyanne Sellers is tied for 24th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1372. She's tied with Chequita Wood (1983-86) and is nearing Laurin Mincy (1,379 2011-15) at No. 23. 
  • The point guard is also seventh on the all-time assists list with 463 in her career. Next on the list is Anjalé Barrett (486 from 2008-12). 
Home Sweet Home 
  • Maryland has been a dominant home team, especially over the last decade. The Terps are 614-142 all-time in College Park, dating back to the inaugural 1971-72 season.
  • Maryland is 320-47 at home under Brenda Frese, whose first season in College Park was the inaugural season of XFINITY Center. 
Series History 
  • Today's matchup was the 22nd between Maryland and Michigan State. The Terps own the series, 19-3.
  • Maryland has won eight of the last nine meetings, as the Spartans won last year's matchup, 74-69, in East Lansing on Jan. 9, 2024.
  • Brenda Frese is 20-4 vs. Michigan State in her career
Numbers And Nuggets To Know 
  • 2: This was Maryland's second ranked win of the season. 
  • 8: Shyanne Sellers has scored in double figures in eight straight games. 
  • 8: Maryland is ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll.
  • 11: Kaylene Smikle has scored in double figures in 11 straight games. 
  • 12: Maryland is 12-0 on the season for the first time since 2018-19. 
  • 12: The Terps have won the rebound battle in all 12 games this season.  
  • 12: The Terps have forced their opponent to commit double-digit turnovers in all 12 games this season.
  • 17: Saylor Poffenbarger recorded the 17th double-double of her career and her fourth as a Terp.
  • 19: The Terps are 19-3 all-time vs. the Spartans.  
  • 33: This was Poffenbarger's 33rd game with double-digit rebounds. 
  • 54: Over the last three seasons, the Terps are 54-1 and have won 17 straight when leading at the start of the fourth quarter. 
  • 69: The Terrapins are 69-5 over the last four seasons when leading at the half.
  • 97: The Terps have 97 ranked victories under head coach Brenda Frese.
  • 240: Since quarters started in women's basketball in 2015-16, Maryland is now 240-3 when leading after three quarters.
Up Next
  • Maryland will play Rutgers at XFINITY Center on Jan. 2. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and air on Big Ten Plus.
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