BIRMINGHAM, AL – No. 4 seed Maryland women's basketball was defeated by No. 1 seed South Carolina, 71-67, in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 at Legacy Arena on Friday. The Terps conclude their season playing in their fourth Sweet 16 in five years.
No. 18 ranked Maryland also finished its season 25-8 overall, the most wins for the program since 2022-23 — the last time the Terps advanced to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. Overall, Maryland has played in 17 Sweet 16s, 12 of which are under head coach Brenda Frese.
No. 2 ranked South Carolina (33-3) extended its win streak to 10 games and advanced to the Elite Eight. Maryland entered halftime with a 33-31 lead and later led by as many as seven points (41-34) at the 7:26 third-quarter mark. However, the Gamecocks gained control and went on to win by outscoring Maryland 12-7
in the final three minutes. There were eight lead changes in the game and three instances where it was tied.
Kaylene Smikle led the Terps with 17 points. She also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists. This was her third straight NCAA Tournament game scoring 17 or more points. The junior has scored in double-figures in 30 of 33 games this season.
Shyanne Sellers scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists. She wrapped up her career placing 11th on the program's scoring list (1676) and third on the all-time assists list (523). Sellers is the only player in program history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.
Allie Kubek tallied 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor. She also added five rebounds, two steals and a block before fouling out.
Sarah Te-Biasu followed with 12 points on 2-of-5 shooting from three.
Despite the loss, Maryland forced South Carolina to commit 18 turnovers. Gamecock's leading scorer, Joyce Edwards (13.2 PPG), was also held to just six points. South Carolina's third-leading scorer, Chloe Kitts, scored their first 10 points of the game but was limited to just five points through the remainder of the contest.
This was the Terrapins' 15th straight NCAA Tournament bid, dating back to 2011. It's their 21st NCAA bid overall under Frese in her 23 seasons in College Park. This was also Maryland's 16th top-four seed under Frese. Maryland is now 55-31 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 43-19 under head Frese.
Frese's Take
"I'm really, really proud of this group. I thought they came out and you saw our players competed as hard as they have for forty minutes. I knew they would. We were this resilient all season long, going 10-1 on the road. We wanted to pack the paint, battle on the glass, and I thought we did that to the very end. Just appreciate this group. It was such a journey with all of them starting all the way back when we brought ten new players in and every single one of them choosing to buy in and believe in this coaching staff and believe in the system.
So I know we're disappointed, because we felt like through the journey and through this game that we had a chance to be able to move on, but we hold our head high just given how we played tonight."
From The Girls
"I think we executed the game plan to a tee, came down to we missed more free throws than we usually do and then a couple of stops at the end," Sellers said. "But ultimately I'm super proud of this group, proud of the way we fought. People thought we were going to get crushed by 20, I think we set the record straight to stop doubting Maryland again and, again.
Then through the course of my journey here, I've seen it all. I've been at one of the best programs in the country for four years. I'm grateful for my time here. I've made sisters for life, family for life and nothing is going to change once I go."
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps trailed 8-4 at the first media timeout. South Carolina's Chloe Kitts had all eight of its points. Kaylene Smikle and Shyanne Sellers each scored for the Terps.
- Maryland trailed 17-16 at the end of the first quarter. It had balanced scoring as Smikle, Mir McLean and Allie Kubek each had four points.
- Sarah Te-Biasu hit a 3-pointer at the 6:13 mark to give Maryland its first lead of the game at 21-20. The game was later tied at 22 apiece with 4:58 to go in the half. South Carolina was scoreless from the floor for the last 4:18.
- After a free throw made by Saylor Poffenbarger, the Terps led 33-31 at the break. The Terps forced eight first-half turnovers and limited the Gamecocks to 23.5% shooting in the second frame.
- Maryland led 43-39 at the 4:43 third-quarter media timeout. It previously led by as many as seven (41-34) at the 7:26 mark.
- The Terps called a timeout as South Carolina regained its lead at 46-45 after a layup by Te-Hina Paopao at the 3:15 third-quarter mark. The Gamecocks were in the middle of a 7-0 run.
- South Carolina led 52-50 entering the final frame. Smikle led all scorers with 15 points. However, the Gamecocks ended the quarter on a 13-5 run.
- Maryland called a timeout as it led 58-57 with 4:22 to play. The Gamecocks were yet to score at 3:18, missing their last five shots from the field. Maryland had four players in double-figures.
- Dawn Staley called a timeout with 2:31 to play as Maryland led 60-59. Kubek fouled out with 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting. However, South Carolina was 1-for-9 on its last 10 shots from the floor.
- Maryland called a timeout to advance the basketball as it trailed 64-60 with 33 seconds to play.
- South Carolina led by six, but Poffenbarger forced the Gamecocks to burn a timeout after hitting a clutch 3-pointer. The Terps trailed 66-63 with 25 seconds to play.
- South Carolina gained control and went on to win by outscoring Maryland 12-7 in the final three minutes.
Double-Figure Factors
- Kaylene Smikle scored 17 points, her 68th career double-figure game. This was her 30th game recording double-digit points as a Terp. She leads the Terps this season in double-figure scoring games.
- Allie Kubek scored 12 points and earned her 63rd career game in double figures. She has scored in double figures 15 times this season.
- Sarah Te-Biasu scored 12 points, her 95th double-digit score in a game and 15th in double figures as a Terp. She leads the Terps in career double-digit scoring games
- Shyanne Sellers scored 10 points, recording her 93rd career game in double figures. She has scored double figures in 26 games this season.
Terps In The Dance
- This was the Terrapins' 15th straight NCAA Tournament bid, dating back to 2011. It was their 21st NCAA bid overall under Frese in her 23 seasons in College Park. It was also Maryland's 16th top-four seed under Brenda Frese.
- Maryland is now 55-31 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 43-19 under Brenda Frese.
- Frese has led the Terrapins to 21 NCAA Tournament bids in her 23 postseasons. The Terrapins have advanced to 12 Sweet Sixteens, seven Elite Eights, three Final Fours and the 2006 NCAA Championship under her.
Sellers On The Charts
- Shyanne Sellers is the only player in program history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.
- Sellers moved to 11th on the program's all-time scoring list with 1676 points. She passed Christy Winters, who scored 1,679 points from 1987-90. Next on the list is Diamond Miller (1,706 from 2020-23).
- The point guard is also third on the all-time assists list, having 523 in her career. Next on the list is Debbie Lytle (583 from 1980-83).
Numbers And Nuggets To Know
- 1: Sellers is the only player in program history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
- 3: Sellers is third on the program's all-time assists list.
- 11: Sellers is 11th on Maryland's all-time scoring list.
- 12: The terps have played in 12 Sweet 16s under Frese.
- 15: This was the Terrapins' 15th straight NCAA Tournament bid, dating back to 2011.
- 16: This was Maryland's 16th top-four seed under Brenda Frese.
- 17: This was Maryland's 17th Sweet 16 in program history.
- 18: Maryland is ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press poll.
- 21: This was Maryland's 21st NCAA bid overall under Frese in her 23 seasons in College Park.
- 30: Smikle has scored double figures in 30 of 33 games this season.
