Maryland women’s basketball beats the Crimson Tide – Sweet Sixteen next up

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 4 seed Maryland Terrapins battled to a 111-108 nail-biting double-overtime victory against the No. 5 seed Alabama Crimson Tide Monday evening at the Xfinity Center.  

After reigning victorious against No. 13 seed Norfolk State University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Terps looked to extend their stay in the tournament and qualify for the Sweet Sixteen. The Crimson Tide beat No. 12 seed Green Bay in the first round of the tournament and looked to take down Maryland on their home court.

In a back and forth contest where Sarah Te-Biasu, who finished with 26 points, six assists, and three steals, put in a deep three pointer with just a few seconds left to play in the third; Alabama still led 64-55 heading into the last frame. 

Te-Biasu told the media after the game how this stretch was tough for them, but never giving up and their continuous fight allowed them to get back into the game.

Shyanne Sellers, who finished with a team high 28 points said, “Get it within 10 going into the fourth and we’re right there, and that’s exactly what we did.”

The Terps opened the fourth quarter with urgency, but it seemed every score was answered right back by the Crimson Tide. A fifteen foot jumper from Kaylene Smikle, who finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, cut the Alabama lead to 73-67 and gave Maryland some momentum going into an Alabama timeout. 

“When we went big and brought Amari [DeBerry] in I thought she did some great things, I thought she was really ready and impacted us in a great way,” Freese said.

DeBerry added great screens and size, as well as a block and a mid range jumpshot to give Maryland some momentum early in the fourth quarter. 

Sellers knocked down a huge three with four minutes to play in regulation. Sarah Ashlee Barker answered right back with a layup. 

Sellers put in a mid range jumper on the next possession. Smikle knocked down two free throws to cut the Alabama lead to two. Barker scored another layup and after an empty trip, the Crimson Tide had the ball again. Mir McLean, who finished with eight points and 10 rebounds,  put in a layup with just over a minute to play in regulation. 

Maryland women’s head coach Brenda Frese harped on how important poise was in the fourth quarter.

“Just doing it one possession at a time, and doing it together,” she added, “Nobody had to do it on their own. They trusted each other on the offensive end as well as on the defensive end.”

After another stop by Maryland, Sellers went to the line for two free-throws; she knotted the game at 80. As it seemed Alabama had nothing going on their possession, Barker put up a deep three to take the lead again. After her shot was blocked, Smikle found Sarah Te-Biasu at the top of the key, and Te-Biasu found the bottom of the net, 83-83 with 12 seconds to play in regulation.

Alabama’s Karly Weathers missed the possible game winning shot as time expired. As Sellers found Allie Kubek, for a layup on their first possession, it felt like a new game.

“I told them overtime was our time,” Freese said.

Smikle put in a layup as she was fouled, giving the Terps a 88-85 advantage. Sellers was fouled on a fast break awarding her two free-throws resulting in two points. Barker was fouled on the next possession but the Terps still had a 90-88 advantage. McLean’s steal led to a Sellers layup as she was fouled; Maryland led by five with just under two minutes to play in the first overtime.

Te-Biasu put in two free-throws with just over a minute to play to give the Terps a 95-91 advantage. Barker answered back immediately with a layup. Alabama called a timeout with 27 seconds to play leading to an empty possession and Maryland receiving the ball after an out-of-bounds review. 

Saylor Poffenbarger went to the line for two free-throws, but only made one. Alabama’s Dianna Collins raced down the floor and found Barker for three, she was fouled on the shot by Poffenbarger. Barker made all three free-throws as double overtime was about to tip-off.

The Terps jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the period. Maryland led 101-96 with three minutes to play.

Collins cut the lead to three with a layup, but McLean answered right back to bolster the Terps’ advantage. Alabama knocked down two free-throws but Te-Biasu had a three-pointer ready. Barker scored a layup, and after another Crimson Tide score, it was 106-104. 

Te-Biasu scored a floater and was immediately answered by Barker once again. Kubek was fouled, and as she stood at the line Sellers said a prayer over her. Kubek made one, 109-106 Maryland. Barker put in another layup to cut the lead to one, but Sellers was sent to the line; two more points for the Terps. After another out-of-bounds review, it was Alabama’s ball with 1.8 to play under their basket. 

Sellers wanted to put the pressure on Alabama by knocking down every single free throw, especially the last two.

“I didn’t want to give them any hope. I wanted them to have to make a three if they wanted to send it to another overtime,” said Sellers.

The Crimson Tide couldn’t get a shot off as time expired.

Frese said, “No team deserved to lose this game tonight. Both teams were so good.”

Barker set an Alabama record with 45 points..

“45 points is a lot, but I would have loved to win instead of score 45 points, but at the end of the day it’s not my glory, it’s the Lord’s,” Barker said. 

Both teams started hot early as the Crimson Tide led 12-11 going into the first media break of the game. A couple of threes from Sellers and Te-Biasu gave the Terps an early boost, while Christina Dalce already grabbed two offensive rebounds and blocked one shot. Maryland led 19-15 at the end of the first quarter.

After another Kubek layup, Kaylene Smikle stole the ball at half court leading to a layup. The crowd erupted and Maryland had a 10-point advantage with just over seven and a half minutes to play in the second quarter. 

Alabama immediately cut the Terps lead to nothing with a 10-0 run; capped off by a three pointer by Barker. McLean converted two free-throws followed by Smikle’s first three of the evening. 

The Crimson Tide led 41-39 heading into halftime with Barker leading all scorers with 17 points. Sellers led the way for the Terps with 10 points. Kubek had nine rebounds, four being offensive, as she dominated the boards in the first half.

Both teams endured major foul troubles due to both overtimes.

Maryland will now be tasked with topping No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks in the Sweet Sixteen; Friday at 5 p.m. in Birmingham, Alabama.