COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In a game that featured over 200 combined points, just two seconds of defense decided Monday night’s NCAA Tournament second-round contest between No. 4 seed Maryland women’s basketball and No. 5 seed Alabama.
As the Crimson Tide inbounded from the baseline with 1.8 seconds remaining in double overtime, the Terps held a three-point advantage. Alabama’s only option was to find a three-point shooter; Maryland sealed all potential options by switching everything.
The Crimson Tide seemingly wanted to go to sophomore guard Diana Collins, who created a margin of space, but Maryland’s Christina Dalce picked her up almost immediately.
Running out of options and time, inbounder Karly Weathers fired a desperation pass to Sarah Ashlee Barker near the top of the three-point line. Barker — who had 45 points, the Xfinity Center single-game record — was Alabama’s most reliable option and best chance at forcing another overtime.
But the pass never reached her hands. Sarah Te-Biasu undercut the passing lane, deflecting the ball to teammate Allie Kubek as time expired.
Maryland’s game-ending defensive stand capped a 111-108 double-overtime win in front of an electric XFINITY Center crowd. Lost in the madness, though, was a miraculous comeback. The Terps trailed by 17 points in the third quarter but clawed their way back in a resilient second-half display.
“I just can’t say enough about our crowd,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. “This is why you try to earn that right to host and have that energy because we absolutely needed it with both the double overtimes.”
The Terps’ frantic charge began with a 10-2 run to close the third quarter.
Maryland steadily outpaced the Crimson Tide in the fourth period, chipping away at the deficit until senior Shyanne Sellers leveled the score at 80 by making a pair of free throws with just over a minute remaining.
Barker answered with a contested triple from the wing — Alabama’s only make from deep inside the game’s final 20 minutes. 37 seconds remained on the game clock for Maryland’s ensuing possession, enough time for the Terps to consider their options.
But, in a discombobulated possession, Maryland barely got its shot off.
Smikle attempted a three from the right wing, but Barker emphatically blocked the shot. Smikle recovered quickly and persisted, though, grabbing the ball and firing to Te-Biasu.
With its season on the line, Maryland’s most lethal three-point shooter laced the straight-away triple as Collins rushed across her. Te-Biasu’s chaotic make steadied the score at 83 apiece. Regulation expired 12 seconds later.
Maryland maintained a slim lead for nearly all of the first overtime, but the Crimson Tide knifed the deficit to three points by the final possession. To no one’s surprise, Barker was tasked with taking the potential game-tying shot. The Georgia transfer didn’t have a very good look – yet, it didn’t matter.
Redshirt junior Saylor Poffenbarger fouled Barker on her way up, sending the 72% free throw shooter to the line with a chance to tie the game. Barker had gone just 4-for-8 from the line prior to her final three attempts.
Naturally, the graduate student sank all of them — none of which even grazed the rim on their way down — to equal the score at 96-96.
“I didn’t think she needed to shed a single tear. She was excellent and I think she put everyone on notice,” Sellers said of Barker. “Obviously we probably should have done a little bit better but we contained everybody else so that was huge. But she has no reason to hang her head.”
The second overtime period followed a similar trend, with Maryland taking the initial lead. But this time, the Terps had foul trouble on their side through the game’s final possessions.
Sophomore Essence Cody became the third Alabama starter to foul out after bumping Kubek with 27 seconds remaining. Well into the bonus at that point, Kubek took two free throws and sank just one.
Barker cut Alabama’s deficit to one before the Crimson Tide sent Sellers to the line with 15 seconds left. The senior made both charity stripe shots, capping off a team-high 28-point performance in her final game at the XFINITY Center.
And once Maryland got the game-sealing stop, Sellers’ free throws became the game’s final points.
“They’re easy money shots. You got to be able to step up and hit them,” Sellers said. “We practice free throws all the time, so I know I can step up with confidence and knock them down.”
Monday evening’s contest began at a far different pace.
The Terps created the game’s first significant separation with a 6-0 run four minutes into the game. Alabama quickly clawed its way back but went cold down the stretch, allowing the Terps to stretch their lead to double figures. But early in the second quarter, their offensive execution — which had been largely clean — evaporated.
Maryland turned the ball over on three straight possessions, allowing the Crimson Tide to rush back into the game with a 10-0 run that featured three layups by Barker. The Terps only made one field goal over the final 7:30 of the half, allowing the Crimson Tide to carry a 41-39 lead into the break.
The Terps’ barren streak extended past halftime. Several misses, coupled with struggles on the offensive glass, allowed Alabama to push its offense in transition. Maryland’s defense — which had chased Alabama off the three-point-line earlier in the game — scrambled as Alabama hit a barrage of transition threes in a 14-0 run.
Aaliyah Nye, the SEC’s leading three-point shooter, capped that tide-shifting stretch with an unassisted triple that gave Alabama a 62-45 lead with 13 minutes remaining.
But just when it seemed the game was slipping out of Maryland’s grasp, the Terps embarked on their extraordinary 17-point comeback.
“No team deserved to lose this game tonight,” Frese said. “Every player had an impactful moment for us, whether it was on the offensive or defensive end.”
The Terps’ road only gets more difficult from here. They face No. 1 seed — and back-to-back defending national champion — South Carolina in the Sweet 16. That game will be played in Birmingham on Friday.
