COLLEGE PARK, MD — No. 16 Maryland dropped a tight 68-61 contest to the Oregon Ducks at XFINITY Center on Saturday night despite Oluchi Okananwa's 27-point night. Oregon used a 24-11 fourth quarter to rally and win just the fourth-ever meeting between the Terps and the Ducks.
Okananwa had a strong night, scoring a game-high 27 points and grabbing five rebounds. She tallied Maryland's first nine points — and 14 in the second quarter — to drop 23 in the first half and mark her ninth game of the season with 20+ points. She ranks in the top-10 in the Big Ten in points, free throws, offensive rebounds, and steals.
Addi Mack gave Maryland 17 points and six rebounds for her 14th-career double-digit game in her freshman season.
Saylor Poffenbarger pitched in eight rebounds in the loss.
Trailing 22-30 late in the second quarter, Maryland went on a 14-0 run — highlighted by
Yarden Garzon's historic three-point shot — to claim a 36-30 halftime lead. Garzon's three pushed her past 1,500-career points and extended her Big Ten-leading three-point total to 64.
Despite Maryland holding Oregon's two top scorers, Katie Fiso and Mia Jacobs, to eight and six respective points, the Ducks got 26 points and 11 boards from Ehis Etute in their 17th win of the season on a night where Maryland honored former Terp Vicki Brick-Zupancic and her legacy.
How It Happened:
1st Quarter:
- Okananwa got the scoring started with an early layup.
- Okananwa scored Maryland's first nine points as the Terps opened a 9-4 lead.
- An 8-1 run from the Ducks put them ahead 12-10 with a minute to play.
- Mack created a three-point play to reclaim the lead.
- Oregon led 14-13 after 10 minutes of action.
2nd Quarter:
- The Ducks scored the quarter's first eight points as they extended their lead to 19-13.
- Kyndal Walker got on the board early in the second quarter.
- Okananwa reached double figures midway through the frame.
- Garzon drained a three to cut Oregon's lead to 30-25.
- Okananwa created a three-point play, drawing a foul and hitting the free throw, to make it a two-point game with two minutes to play.
- Breanna Williams tied the game with her first points of the night.
- A 14-0 run from the Terps put them back in front, 36-30 at halftime.
3rd Quarter:
- Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu scored the first points of the second half.
- Oregon used an 8-0 run to take a 40-38 lead.
- Mack knocked down a three to reclaim the lead halfway through the quarter.
- Another Williams bucket put Maryland up 44-40.
- A pair of Walker free throws built a 48-44 lead late in the quarter.
- The Terps took a 50-44 lead into the fourth.
4th Quarter:
- Mack reached double figures midway early in the frame.
- Oregon claimed a 55-54 lead with a three halfway through the quarter.
- Mack got a layup to fall to cut Oregon's lead to 63-59 with a minute to play.
- A pair of Mack free throws brought the Terps within two with 30 seconds to play.
- The Ducks closed out a 68-61 win.
Double-Digit Days:
- Okananwa (27 points) scored 20+ points for the ninth time this season and the 13th time in her career. She's scored in double figures 19 times this season and 55 times in her career.
- Mack (17 points) scored in double figures for the 14th time in her freshman season.
Brenda Frese's Breakdown:
- "With our limited depth, I thought they wore us out."
- "It's a 40-minute game, and impactful possessions matter."
- "We have to learn from the film and learn from the game and find ways to improve."
- "We have a small margin for error with the limited pieces we have. We've got to continue to find ways to play within each other."
- "We just have to continue to stay grounded where we're at and focus on what lies ahead."
Numbers To Know:
- 4: Saturday's contest was just the fourth-ever meeting between Maryland and Oregon.
- 14: Maryland held Oregon's Mia Jacobs, who entered averaging 14 points per game, to six on Saturday.
- 15.3: Maryland held Oregon's Katie Fiso, who entered averaging 15.3 points per game, to eight on Saturday.
- 17: Mack scored 17 points to mark her 14th double-figure game of the season.
- 27: Okananwa led all scorers with 27 points.
- 64: Garzon leads the Big Ten with 64 three-pointers this season.
- 74: Okananwa is tied for third in the Big Ten with 74 offensive rebounds this season.
- 383: The Terps lead the Big Ten with 383 free throws this season.
- 985: Maryland's 985 rebounds this season lead the Big Ten.
- 1,914: Maryland has scored the most points in the Big Ten this season with 1,914.
Up Next:
- Maryland takes to the road to face No. 13 Michigan State on Feb. 4. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 PM and the game will air on B1G+.
