No. 20 Terps Take Down No. 12 Tar Heels 72-68 In Exhibition Game

Saturday, October 24

College Park, MD

1:00 PM

Maryland

0-0,0-0Big Ten

North Carolina

0-0,0-0ACC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
North Carolina	16	17	15	20	68
Maryland	19	13	22	18	72

The Terps celebrate a 3-pointer against North Carolina in an exhibition game

10/24/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Maryland aced its final preseason test ahead of the 2026-27 season.

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The No. 20 Terps defeated No. 12 North Carolina 72-68 in an exciting exhibition rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament Record Round game. Maryland aced its final preseason test as the Terps ramped up for their 2026-27 campaign.

Nunu Agara led Maryland with 22 points and 11 rebounds. She scored 20+ points in each of Maryland's two exhibitions. Oluchi Okananwa tallied seven points, nine rebounds, and three steals, while Bri McDaniel logged 10 points and Trinity Jones had nine. The Terps outgained the Tar Heels 44-33 on the glass and scored 32 points in the paint in a tense game that featured seven lead changes.

Nunu for 👌 📺 @BigTenPlus #faMily 🐢 https://t.co/CXAEB5IeNK
— Maryland Women's Basketball (@TerpsWBB) October 24, 2026

Agara scored nine of Maryland's first 13 points and reached double figures in the Terps' 19-point first quarter that featured an 8-0 scoring run and a 4:53 North Carolina scoring drought. The lead changed hands five times in the back-and-forth second quarter, giving the Tar Heels a 33-32 halftime advantage.

Addi Mack for three! 💥 📺 @BigTenPlus #faMily 🐢 https://t.co/VyHYyr5Kqp
— Maryland Women's Basketball (@TerpsWBB) October 24, 2026

A pair of 3-pointers from Rainey Welson helped Maryland reclaim Saturday's lead in the third quarter. The Terps scored a game-high 22 points in the third frame and held on to close out the exhibition victory.

Rainey is on from long range! 🎯 #faMily 🐢 https://t.co/nPdDGzp4WE
— Maryland Women's Basketball (@TerpsWBB) October 24, 2026

The Tar Heels made nine 3-pointers in their loss. Kate Harpring led North Carolina with 29 points. Maryland turns its attention to the regular season, which begins in Paris on Nov. 2. The No. 20 Terps will battle No. 1 South Carolina in the 2026 Oui-Play on ESPN at 12 p.m.

How it Happened:
1st Quarter:

McDaniel got the Terps on the board with a pair of free throws.
Agara drained a 3-pointer midway through the frame to cut into UNC's early lead.
Agara tied the game at 13-13 with a layup with four minutes to play.
Maryland held the Tar Heels scoreless for nearly five minutes down the stretch.
Okananwa gave Maryland its first lead during an 8-0 scoring run.
Agara reached double figures in the closing seconds.
The Terps led 19-16 after 10 minutes of action.

2nd Quarter:

Addi Mack opened the quarter with a 3-point basket to get herself on the board.
The Tar Heels reclaimed the lead with a 6-0 run.
McDaniel gave Maryland a 26-25 advantage midway through the quarter.
Marya Boiko's first points of the game helped the lead change hands again.
North Carolina led 33-32 at the break.

3rd Quarter:

Jones opened the scoring to put Maryland back ahead.
The Terps started the half on an 8-2 run to extend their lead.
A pair of free throws from Agara built a 46-41 lead midway through the frame.
Welson delivered a pair of late 3-pointers to give Maryland a 54-48 advantage to take into the final frame.

4th Quarter:

Okananwa created a three-point play to open the Terps' fourth-quarter scoring.
A free throw from Agara put her at 20 points.
Jordyn Jackson extended the lead with a 3-pointer halfway through the frame.
McDaniel became the second Terp in double figures late in the contest.
North Carolina hit a 3-pointer to pull within two points in the final minute.
Mack put the game away with a pair of clutch free throws.
The Terps closed out their 72-68 win.

Jordyn Jackson put the Terps up by five with a big three‼️ 📺 @BigTenPlus #faMily 🐢 https://t.co/n3BqwI0vmm
— Maryland Women's Basketball (@TerpsWBB) October 24, 2026

Brenda's Breakdown:

"The game was exactly what we needed when you talk about getting us ready. I thought their physicality was something that we needed to see."
"I love the fact that we adjusted to what needed to be done."
"I thought we really settled in in the second half. We kept our composure when it came down the line."
"Free-throw shooting is always going to be really important to us. We want to get to the line a minimum of 25 times."
"I loved the way we were able to be aggressive."
"Trinity plays the right way. Her motor never gives. She's doing a good job with whatever the team needs."
"This is a really athletic group."
"Nunu gives us a big, strong presence inside. She's going to have to play a lot of minutes for us, but she's in great shape, and she's put in the work."
"We're still trying to find ourselves."
"I loved that third quarter. That was a dominating performance and who we need to be."

Numbers to Know:

8: Maryland's 8-0 run in the first quarter was the largest by either team on Saturday.
10: Ten different Terps scored in the win.
19: The Terps shot 19/22 from the free throw line.
20: Agara scored 20+ points in both of the Terps' exhibition games.
23: Maryland led for 23:27 of the game's 40 minutes.
44: Maryland secured 44 rebounds to UNC's 33.
70: North Carolina was only held under 70 points 11 times last season.

Up Next:

Maryland opens the 2026-27 season in the 2026 Oui-Play against No. 1 South Carolina in Paris on Nov. 2. The game is set for 12 PM and will air on ESPN.