Maryland women’s basketball falls to the Trojans
Maryland women’s basketball guard Shyanne Sellers fights through USC defenders as she records a season-high of 26 points. Maryland falls to 14-1 on the season. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Shyanne Sellers finishes with a season-high of 26 points in No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball (14-1, 4-1) first loss overall and in conference to No. 4 Southern California (15-1, 5-0) Wednesday night, 79-74, ending Maryland’s undefeated streak.
Both teams last matchup was1993, withTerps winning against USC was in 1988, 81-67.
Wednesday proved to be a battle between Maryland’s Kaylene Smikle and Sellers and USC’s Juju Watkins and Kiki Iriafen, each leading the way for their respective teams.
Smikle and Watkins entered this game as co-players of the week for the Big Ten. Smikle dished out 26 points and six steals against No. 23 Iowa on Sunday. Watkins finished with 23 points, three steals and one block against Rutgers on Sunday. USC defeated the Scarlet Knights 92-42.
The Terps and the Trojans traded basket for basket down to the bitter end but ultimately, the Trojans would leave the east coast with two conference wins.
USC’s quick offense called for Maryland’s forward, Christina Dalce, to find her confidence under the basket. Dalce has struggled the past two games to capture rebounds. Against Michigan State, she notched one rebound and had eight against Iowa.
“I know confidence comes from within but knowing that I have my teammates and Brenda and even my parents, my mom, my sisters – they really encourage me and tell me the past is the past and this is the now and you’re able to make a difference whether that’s being on the defensive boards or offensive or even scoring,” said Dalce
Saylor Poffenbarger also added 17 rebounds to the team total of 40. USC ended the night with 47 of their own, with Rayah Marshall leading the way with 15.
Although Maryland’s offense started hot, Maryland head coach Brenda Frese called the team’s seven assists “uncharacteristic” which set them apart down the stretch.
“We made some tough plays, but, you know, I thought in the fourth quarter especially, credit their defense,” said Frese. “We’ll be able to bounce back from this, you know, a lot of great things to learn.”
Smikle has electrified the offense for Maryland since she stepped foot in the Xfinity Center this season. The Rutgers transfer notched 16 points, including a steal from Watkins. The steal sent the arena to its feet as Smikle effortlessly laid the ball in the basket.
USC struggled to find the basket in the third quarter. Avery Howell would break their almost four-minute scoring drought with a shot clock buzzer-beater three.
Watkins fouled out with less than 30 seconds to go in the game after Sellers drew a foul, she finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
During the press conference, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and Iriafen spoke to the media about the ongoing wildfires in southern California. The team has been on the road for almost five days.
“I think coach kind of touched on it this morning and life goes on, like, regardless of what’s happening Maryland’s not gonna play any different because of what we’re dealing with at home,” said Iriafen.
“We have a perspective, basketball and everything, but when these 40 minutes are in front of us that’s everything to us in that moment,” said Gottlieb, “I think that gives people maybe a sense of being able to take their mind off harder things…”
Maryland will take on Wisconsin on Jan. 11 at the Kohl Center at 2:30 p.m.