Maryland women’s basketball downs the No. 24 Gophers in offensive battle
Senior guard Shyanne Sellers drives to the basket while being defended by Amaya Battle. Sellers scored 27 points against the Gophers, a season-high for her. (Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – No. 8 Maryland (16-2, 4-2) earned their fourth win over a ranked opponent against No. 24 Minnesota (16-1, 6-1), 99-92, at Xfinity Center Tuesday night. Shyanne Sellers completed her 13th straight game scoring in double figures, 27 points and Kaylene Smikle completed her 16th game scoring in double figures, 19 points.
The Golden Gophers came into the game ranked for the first time since the 2018-2019 season in the USA Today Coaches poll, 24th and the Top 25 Associated Press Poll, 25th. Despite a setback loss from No. 4 USC last week, the Terps still hold their No. 8 spot in the Associated Press poll and their No. 9 spot in the USA Today Coaches poll.
Minnesota is having their strongest season start since their 2014-2015 season. They started off with 14-1 before losing to Maryland 73-77, their second loss of that season.
“I think the question for us is, you know, can we score efficiently enough,” said Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. “We’ve done a good job taking care of the basketball so far this year, but can we score efficiently enough to be in games or contests when our defense isn’t working as well as it needs to?”
The first quarter showed the Gophers' tenacity and why they had earned their ranked spot. Former Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 6), Tori McKinney opened up the scoring drive for the Gophers, but she would later foul out and finish her night with nine points and two assists.
“I think we learned that we definitely have some resilience and toughness,” Amya Battle said. “We were down 20 at some point, so, to be able to cut that down in three, I think showed a lot of toughness in that.”
Battle finished her night with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Early on, the Terps showed strong effort by Bri McDaniel to capture a loose ball at the 6:04 mark in the first quarter. She was able to get the ball to Saylor Poffenbarger, who sent the ball to Sellers in time for a three-point basket to tie the game.
McDaniel continued to play for the rest of the first half, including cashing in a jumper before going down at the end of the second quarter. She grabbed her right leg and was carried off the court after attempting to walk on the leg. Her night would end there, finishing with six points and a rebound.
“I know that the next few days will have some testing on her knee so that’s really all I have,” said Maryland women’s head coach Brenda Frese. “She is in pain in the locker room but it’s too early at this point.”
The second quarter continued the Terps’ slow start. They opened the quarter with 0-4 field goals until Sarah Te-Biasu was sent to the line, cashing in her two free throws.
Maryland picked up their offense throughout the quarter, including a layup made by Smikle from Te-Biasu to beat the buzzer, signaling the end of the first half. The scoreboard read 42-37 in the Terps’ favor.
The third quarter would continue the Terps electric offense. Back-to-back baskets from Smikle and a second-chance layup from Mir McLean allowed the Terps to increase the scoring gap between them and the Gophers, 51-42. The Gophers started the second half 0-3 from the field. After Smikle’s jumper, Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit called a timeout.
Minnesota’s Grace Grocholski made a contested layup to end the Gophers scoring drought.
Allie Kubeck was left wide open on the arch and launched a three, her first since the Terps took on Iowa on January 5. She would go on to score her third three of the game, a season-high for the graduate student out of Elkton, Maryland.
“The coaches just told me to shoot the ball today, like let it fly and I feel like I’ve been in a slump so I’m just trying to get my confidence back,” said Kubeck.
In addition to a 27-point night, Sellersdished out seven assists. She also earned Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll on Monday for her performances against USC and Wisconsin earlier this week.
Maryland has a challenging road ahead as they take on more ranked opponents in the last two weeks of January. They take on No. 7 Texas in the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic on Monday, No. 9 Ohio State on January 23, and No. 1 UCLA on January 26.