Just over a week ago, No. 20 Maryland women’s basketball’s season looked to be spiraling out of control.
It had lost four consecutive games with two road matchups ahead.
The Terps won both and carried that momentum to an 81-62 win Thursday night in their return to Xfinity Center, marking their third straight win by 16-plus points.
“I think you’re seeing everyone right now in February, and they’re kind of going through that gauntlet,” coach Brenda Frese said. “We just continue to pour into this group and believe in them.”
The team gelled together all night, building on the momentum from the winning streak. Six Terps scored at least nine points, led by 19 from Yarden Garzon.
Saylor Poffenbarger had a phenomenal game as she was honored for her bobblehead night. She provided a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double with five assists and her usual positive impact on the defensive end.
Both Addi Mack and Yarden Garzon controlled the second half. Mack drove hard and got to the basket, pushing the pace for Maryland.
Early on, Maryland needed the bench to step up as the starters looked out of rhythm. Kyndal Walker was held scoreless on five shots, but made up for it on defense with five rebounds and three steals. Mir McLean provided efficient scoring with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
“Coach always talks about it, no matter how many minutes, you can be impactful in whatever way it is,” McLean said. “The game of basketball is so complex in that way and my teammates have always poured into me.”
Penn State’s strategy offensively was clear. It was long jump shots or setting up 6-foot-6 center Gracie Merkle in the paint with her size advantage.
This strategy was effective in the first half. Maryland’s defense couldn’t stop Merkle when she got going. Kiyomi McMiller feasted on this strategy as well, finishing with 30 points on the night.
The starters had occasional spurts of excellence, which would briefly propel Maryland ahead. Still, stretches of sloppy play allowed Penn State to hang in for the first half.
“I thought the first half, we didn’t have quite the intensity that we’ve had when we came out on the road,” Frese said, “we want to be able to bring that sooner.”
The Nittany Lions opened the second half with a quick 5-0 run to take the lead, then the Terps responded.
A 16-2 spurt with the starting lineup on the floor gave Maryland a comfortable lead that it never gave up. The defense was key, holding Merkle to only two points in the second half.
On offense, it was Garzon with eight of the team’s 20 points in the third quarter.
The momentum from the third quarter carried over into the fourth as Maryland was unstoppable. They outscored the Nittany Lions 22-9 to extend their winning streak to three games.
“We know how some of our previous games have gone in the second half, where we’ve had a little bit of a lead, and we just have let other people come back in the game,” Mack said. “I think the seniors, the captains, did a really good job of keeping us together and keeping us focused.”
Maryland heads to No. 8 Ohio State next, which handed Maryland its first home loss earlier in the season.
“I know we’re excited that it is a double and we get the opportunity to be able to go back there,” Frese said. “We’ve gotten better as a team, so have they, but you know, these are the kind of matchups you come to the Big Ten to be able to play in.”
