EVANSTON, IL – Led by its defense, No. 21 Maryland women's basketball defeated Northwestern, 85-79, on Thursday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Terps improved to 21-6 overall and 11-5 in Big Ten action. Maryland also improved to 15-1 all-time against Northwestern.
In their victory, the Terps forced 22 turnovers, tied for its second most this season, and scored 27 of their 27 points off them. They forced nine turnovers in the first quarter alone and held the edge in points off turnovers (27-13) and fastbreak points (17-13). Maryland's dominant defensive outing led to easy points in transition. Maryland led by double digits as early as the 8:10 mark in the second quarter. It later led by as many as 21 at 8:39 in the third quarter. Its defense also limited the Wildcats to just 9-of-26 shooting beyond the three-point line.
Kaylene Smikle led the Terrapins offensively with a game-high 23 points. She has scored in double figures in 24 of 27 games and her 10th game this season with 20 or more points. The junior added six assists and nabbed three rebounds.
Saylor Poffenbarger stuffed the stat sheet, impacting every facet of the game. She scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists and pick-pocketed three steals. Poffenbarger scored 14 of her 16 in the first-half alone.
Sarah Te-Biasu was also a standout performer with 15 points, four rebounds and three rebounds.
Shyanne Sellers added a total of 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. She knocked down a season-high four 3-pointers, shooting 4-of-8 overall from three.
Northwestern was led by four double-digit scorers, including Melannie Daley (22), Taylor Williams (18), Caileigh Walsh (15) and Grace Sullivan (11). The Wildcats are now 9-16 overall and 2-13 in conference play.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps led 10-8 at the first media timeout. Kaylene Smikle had half of Maryland's points. Shyanne Sellers drilled a 3-pointer, and Saylor Poffenbarger scored a fastbreak layup off one of her two steals. With Smikle's eight points, Maryland expanded its lead to 22-15 at the end of the first. A converted and-one by Poffenbarger and a fastbreak layup off a steal by Smikle gave the Terps a 27-18 advantage and forced a Northwestern timeout. They had 13 points off turnovers.
- Maryland boasted a 48-30 halftime lead. Its +18 advantage was its highest of the game to that point. It forced 16 first-half turnovers and was led by Poffenbarger's 14 points.
- Northwestern went on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points (53-43) at the 4:53 third-quarter media timeout.
- Maryland boasted a commanding 63-53 advantage entering the final frame. Smikle reached 20 points on the night.
- The Wildcats went on a 6-0 run and trailed 72-66 at the 4:20 mark of the fourth quarter. The Terps called a timeout to halt the run.
- The Terps closed out the game from the free-throw line, winning 85-79.
Double-Figure Factors
- Kaylene Smikle scored 23 points, her 62nd career double-figure game. This was her 24th game netting double-digit points as a Terp. She leads the Terps this season in double-figure scoring games.
- Saylor Poffenbarger tallied 16 points for her 39th career game in double figures. It was her 12th game scoring double-figures as a Terp.
- Sarah Te-Biasu scored 15 points. It was her 90th game scoring in double digits. It was her 10th game scoring in double-figures as a Terp. She leads the Terps in career double-digit scoring games.
- Shyanne Sellers scored 12 points, recording her 88th career game in double figures. She has scored double-figures in 21 games this season.
Sellers On The Charts
- Shyanne Sellers became the first player in program history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career in her last outing against Michigan.
- Sellers is 16th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1566+Today points. Next on the list is Tianna Hawkins (1,595 from 2010-13).
- The point guard is tied for third on the all-time assists list, having 504 in her career. She tied Tara Heiss (504 from 1975-78), and next on the list is Debbie Lytle (583 from 1980-83).
Frese Fuels Greatness
- Brenda Frese earned her 600th career win as Maryland's head coach at Oregon on Feb. 6. She is the winningest coach in Maryland basketball history and now has 603 wins at Maryland.
- Frese is now 603-167 in her career at Maryland. In 26 seasons as a head coach, Frese is 659-197. Frese's career-winning percentage of .769 is No. 1 among Division I coaches all-time.
- In her 22 postseasons, Frese has led the Terrapins to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. Under her leadership, the Terrapins have advanced to 11 Sweet 16s, seven Elite Eights, three Final Fours and the 2006 NCAA Championship. She has also won 14 conference titles.
- Frese, the 2021 AP and ESPN National Coach of the Year, is in her 23rd season at the helm of the Terrapins' program.
Terps In The Big Ten
- The Terps are 221-69 all-time against their Big Ten opponents.
- Since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, the Terrapins have a record of 179-39 against their conference opponents, including a 22-5 record in the Big Ten Tournament.
- In the 22 years under Frese, the Terps are 190-43 against their Big Ten opponents.
- Frese is 204-48 all-time against Big Ten opponents, including her time at Minnesota and Ball State.
Dominating The Series
- Today's matchup was the 16th all-time between Maryland and Northwestern, with the Terps owning the series at 15-1.
- The Terps took last year's meeting, 71-58, in College Park on Dec. 10, 2023.
Numbers And Nuggets To Know
- 1: Sellers is the only player in program history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
- 4: Sellers drilled a season-high four 3-pointers.
- 6: Six Terps recorded at least one steal.
- 9: The Terps forced nine turnovers in the opening quarter.
- 10: Smikle has ten 20-point games this season.
- 15: Maryland is 15-1 all-time against Northwestern.
- 21: Maryland is ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press poll.
- 21: Sellers has scored double figures in 21 of 25 games this season.
- 22: Maryland forced 22 turnovers, tied for its second most this season.
- 24: Smike has scored double figures in 24 of 27 games this season.
- 27: The Terrapins have won 27 straight games when leading at the start of the fourth quarter. They are 63-1 over the last 3 seasons and 249-3 since they moved to quarters in 2015-16.
- 78: The Terrapins are 78-7 in the last four seasons when leading at the half. They are 20-2 this year when leading at halftime.
- 91: The Terps are 91-3 over the last four seasons when leading with 5:00 to play.
- 106: The Terps are 106-7 when they score 80 points or more over the last six seasons.
- 603: This was Frese's 603rd victory as a head coach at Maryland.
Up Next
- Maryland remains on the road and will play Indiana in Bloomington on Feb. 27. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. EST and stream on Peacock.
