Terps’ Rally Falls Short As Season Closes With 74-66 Loss to North Carolina in NCAA Tournament

Sunday, March 22

Chapel Hill, NC

12 PM

Maryland

24-9,11-7Big Ten

North Carolina

28-7,14-4ACC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Maryland	17	16	17	16	66
North Carolina	22	20	8	24	74

Terps’ Rally Falls Short As Season Closes With 74-66 Loss to North Carolina in NCAA Tournament

3/22/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Maryland got 21 points from Oluchi Okananwa in its final game of a strong season.

CHAPEL HILL, NC — Maryland and UNC battled on Sunday afternoon at Carmichael Arena, going back-and-forth in an old ACC rivalry before the Tar Heels outlasted the Terps 74-66 to end Maryland's season at 24-9.

Playing against the Tar Heels for the fifth time in her career, Oluchi Okananwa scored 21 points to lead Maryland in scoring. Mir McLean and Saylor Poffenbarger led the Terps' efforts on the glass with 14 and 10 respective boards. McLean earned her second double-double in as many NCAA Tournament games with 12 points on Sunday.

Leaving it all on the floor 😤🤯 @oluchi_okananwa #MarchMadness x 🎥 ESPN / @TerpsWBB pic.twitter.com/0iHecRpgfl
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 22, 2026

One game after scoring 18 in her first NCAA Tournament game, Addi Mack tallied 13 points — including three three-pointers — to close out her incredible freshman season. Kyndal Walker pitched in 10 points in Sunday's classic.

Four Terps in double figures:

Oluchi Okananwa, Addi Mack, Mir McLean, and Kyndal Walker ✅ pic.twitter.com/S42ACpuIHm
— Maryland Women's Basketball (@TerpsWBB) March 22, 2026

Maryland got UNC's Indya Nivar and Elina Aarnisalo into early foul trouble, removing them from the court for most of the Terps' 17-8 third quarter as Maryland worked back from a 42-33 halftime deficit to tie the game at 50-50 entering the final quarter. The Tar Heels outlasted Maryland to close the Terps' strong 2025-26 season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

How it Happened:
1st Quarter:

McLean opened the scoring with a layup.
Mack hit the Terps' first triple to build a 5-2 lead.
A physical layup from Walker put the Terps up 10-4 midway through the quarter.
The Tar Heels used a 9-0 run to take a 13-10 lead with 3:09 to play.
UNC hit a three-pointer to go up 22-15 in the final minute and take a lead 22-17 into the second.

2nd Quarter:

Okananwa opened the scoring with a layup in the initial seconds.
UNC built a 29-21 lead as Maryland was held scoreless for nearly three minutes.
A 10-2 North Carolina run extended its lead to 34-23 midway through the quarter.
Mack's second three-pointer cut UNC's lead to 37-31 late in the half.
The Tar Heels led 42-33 at the break.

3rd Quarter:

Mack's third triple of the game got the scoring started.
Okananwa reached double figures midway through the half.
Okananwa drew a foul on a layup to bring Maryland within three, 50-47, late in the frame.
Walker hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 50-50 with 46 seconds left in the quarter.

4th Quarter:

Two Walker free throws opened the scoring and gave Maryland the lead.
UNC used a string of free throws to reclaim a 61-66 lead midway through the half.
The Tar Heels hit two free throws to take a 65-60 lead with 2:08 to play.
Okananwa responded with a layup to reach 19 points.
UNC hit a three-pointer to build a six-point lead in the final minutes.
North Carolina outlasted Maryland for the 74-66 win.

Double-Digit Days:

Okananwa (21 points) tallied double-digit scoring for the 28th time this season and the 64th time in her career. She recorded her 14th game this season with 20+ points.
Mack (13 points) scored in double figures for the 21st time in her freshman season.
McLean (12 points) scored in double figures for the sixth time this season and the 30th time in her career.
Walker (10 points) scored 10+ points for the eighth time in her freshman season.

Numbers to Know:

2: McLean logged her second double-double of the season.
4: Four Terps scored in double figures.
41: Maryland grabbed 41 rebounds.
66: The Terps scored 66 points against a UNC team averaging 58.7 points allowed per game.
74: Okananwa' 74 steals this season finish 14th all-time in Maryland single-season history.
77: Sunday marked the 77th all-time meeting between Maryland and UNC.
88: Yarden Garzon's 88 three-pointers finish fifth all-time in Maryland single-season history.
586: Okananwa's 586 points this season finish 19th all-time in Maryland single-season history.