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University of Maryland Athletics

Shyanne Sellers
61
Rutgers RU 8-6,0-3 Big Ten
78
Winner Maryland MD 13-0,3-0 Big Ten
Rutgers RU
8-6,0-3 Big Ten
61
Final
78
Maryland MD
13-0,3-0 Big Ten
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Rutgers RU 13 9 21 18 61
Maryland MD 19 21 24 14 78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

No. 8 Terps Continue Undefeated Start, Thwarting Rutgers, 78-61

COLLEGE PARK, MD – No. 8 Maryland women's basketball continued its undefeated start to the season, thwarting Rutgers 78-61 on Thursday at XFINITY Center. The win advanced Maryland to 13-0 overall and 3-0 in conference action, their best unbeaten streak to begin a season since also starting 16-0 during the 2011-12 season. At 13-0, it is the fourth-best start in program history. 

The Terps built their lead with two separate runs of 7-0 and 11-0 in the first half, leading 40-22 at the break. Maryland also held Rutgers to just nine points in the second frame, marking the 10th time it held an opponent under 10 points in a quarter this season. It comfortably remained in front the rest of the way, leading by as many as 28. 

Shyanne Sellers led the Terps in scoring, netting a season-high 22 points. She made her usual all-around impact, also collecting eight rebounds and dishing out three assists. It was also her ninth game in a row scoring double-digit points and 13th career game with 20 or more points.  
  Allie Kubek added a strong performance, pouring in 17 points while grabbing five rebounds. Against her former team, Kaylene Smikle registered 13 points to go along with five steals (tying career-high) and four rebounds. It was her 12th game in a row scoring double figures. 

The Terps' defense forced a season-high 24 turnovers, seven of which were committed by Rugters' leading scorer, Kiyomi McMiller — a career-high.    

Rutgers (8-6, 0-3) was led by McMiller (14 points and five rebounds) and Destiny Adams (15 points and nine rebounds). Since joining the Big Ten, the Terps have won 16 of 17 games against the Scarlet Knights and boast a 10-game series win streak. 


Breaking Down The Action
  • At the first-quarter media timeout (4:58), the Terps led 10-7. Kaylene Smikle and Shyanne Sellers had each made a 3-pointer. 
  • Maryland expanded its lead to 19-13 entering the second frame after Kiyomi McMiller made a buzzer-beater half-court shot to end the first. The Terps limited the Scarlet Knights to 5-of-19 (26%) shooting from the floor. 
  • The Terps led 40-22 at halftime after a last-second layup by Allie Kubek. They forced 15 turnovers as a team and held the Scarlet Knights to just nine points in the second frame. 
  • Sellers eclipsed her season-high in points (18) with a free throw to convert and one midway through the third. The Terps led 53-34. 
  • Maryland remained in front, winning convincingly. Sellers scored a season-high, and Kubek added a strong scoring performance. 
Double-Figure Factors
  • Shyanne Sellers scored 22 points, recording her 78th career game in double figures. She has scored double-figures in 11 games this season and nine games in a row. It was her 13th time scoring 20 or more points. 
  • Allie Kubek scored 17 points and earned her 57th career game in double figures. She has scored in double-figures nine times this season.
  • Kaylene Smikle scored 13 points, her 50th career double-figure game. This was her 12th consecutive game netting double-digit points as a Terp.
Unstoppable Start 
  • Maryland advanced to 13-0 this season. This is Maryland's best unbeaten streak to begin a season since starting 16-0 during the 2011-12 season. That season, the Terps went 31-5, won the ACC Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Elite Eight. 
  • The Terps have started 16-0 twice in program history. The other occurred in 1982-83.  
  • The Terrapins' best unbeaten streak to begin a season was 18-0 in 2006-07.  
  • The 13-0 start is the fourth-best in 54 years of Maryland women's basketball.                        
Sellers On The Charts 
  • Shyanne Sellers moved to 23rd on the program's all-time scoring list with 1392. She broke a tie with Chequita Wood (1372 from 1983-86) and passed Laurin Mincy (1,379 2011-15). Jasmina Perazic is 22nd with 1,396 from 1980-83). 
  • The point guard is also seventh on the all-time assists list with 466 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 615-142 all-time in College Park, dating back to the inaugural 1971-72 season.
  • Maryland is 321-47 at home under Brenda Frese, whose first season in College Park was the inaugural season of XFINITY Center. 
Series Vs. Rutgers 
  • Today's matchup was the 47th between Maryland and Rutgers. Maryland owns the series 35-12 and has won 16 of 17 meetings since joining the league for the 2014-15 season. 
  • The Terps have won 10 straight matchups dating back to 2019.
  • The Terrapins won both matchups, 67-59 last year, at Rutgers on Feb. 6 and 81-62 in College Park on Feb. 21.
Numbers And Nuggets To Know
  • 4: This was the fourth time this season that Maryland forced 20 or more turnovers in a game. 
  • 8: Maryland is ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll.
  • 9: Shyanne Sellers has scored in double figures in nine straight games. 
  • 10: Maryland has won 10 straight matchups with Rutgers. 
  • 10: The Terps held an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter for the 10th time this season (Rutgers scored nine in the second quarter).  
  • 12: Kaylene Smikle has scored in double figures in 12 straight games. 
  • 13: Maryland is 13-0 on the season for the first time since 2011-12. 
  • 13: The Terps have won the rebound battle in all 13 games this season.  
  • 13: The Terps have forced their opponent to commit double-digit turnovers in all 13 games this season.
  • 13: Sellers recorded 20 or more points for the 13th time in her career. 
  • 16: Since joining the Big Ten, the Terps have won 16 of 17 games against the Scarlet Knights. 
  • 34: This was Saylor Poffenbarger's 34th game with double-digit rebounds. 
  • 54: Over the last three seasons, the Terps are 55-1 and have won 18 straight when leading at the start of the fourth quarter. 
  • 70: The Terrapins are 70-5 over the last four seasons when leading at the half.
  • 241: Since quarters started in women's basketball in 2015-16, Maryland is now 241-3 when leading after three quarters.
Up Next
  • Maryland will play at No. 23 Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 5. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. EST and air on Big Ten Network.
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