COLLEGE PARK, MD — No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball head coach Brenda Frese has a brief history with the University of Minnesota, but it’s nearly impossible to ignore every time the two teams play.
Frese coached the Golden Gophers for one season in 2001-02 and won the Associated Press Coach of the Year award for her efforts. After that season, she was snatched up by Maryland, where she has gone on to have illustrious success, especially against the Golden Gophers.
With No. 24 Minnesota — who was picked to finish tenth in the Big Ten prior to the season — off to a surprising 16-1 start, Tuesday night’s meeting loomed on the schedule with extra importance.
In the end, a 99-92 Maryland victory helped Frese move to 14-1 all-time against Minnesota. The win, however, was ultimately marred by a lackluster finish and a potentially serious injury for Bri McDaniel.
“We knew they were going to be a really good battle,” Frese said. “Credit to them, I thought they never gave up and played until the very end.”
Maryland (16-1, 6-1 Big Ten) got off to a sloppy start on Tuesday evening. The Terps committed three early turnovers, all of which led to Golden Gopher baskets.
Bri McDaniel earned a start for the second straight game following a season-high 21-point showing in Saturday’s win over Wisconsin. Her grit was on display immediately as the Terps overcame their early deficit.
McDaniel tripped and fell while receiving a pass but fought for the ball while on the ground, eventually winning the battle. Sitting on the hardwood, McDaniel passed to Saylor Poffenbarger. The Arkansas transfer then dished to Shyanne Sellers, whose three-pointer gave the Terps a 9-6 advantage.
Minnesota (16-2, 4-2 Big Ten) kept the contest close, though, largely thanks to the hot hand of Amaya Battle. The junior guard contributed nine points, three rebounds, and an assist in the opening quarter as the two teams traded buckets.
The Golden Gophers’ star freshman Tori McKinney, who averaged over 10 points a game entering Tuesday, sat for much of the first half due to foul trouble. Yet, the Terps failed to capitalize on a weakened Minnesota rotation.
Matters were made worse for Maryland as McDaniel stole the ball with time expiring in the first period. The junior went off on a breakaway before hitting the deck once more, but this time it was with an injury. McDaniel was down, seemingly in a lot of pain, as she clutched her right knee.
The junior was ultimately carried off the court. She was ruled out for the remainder of the night soon after, with Frese unable to provide an update after the game.
Entering the second quarter, the Terps had a problem to solve. Having entered the game with the fourth-best rebounding margin of all Division I teams, Maryland was meeting its match in the paint. Four Gophers had multiple rebounds in the first quarter, as Minnesota effectively clogged the interior.
Having originally tried to force through the blockade, Maryland opted to try its luck from behind the arc.
The Terps’ 2-for-8 second-quarter record from three did not do much to the scoreboard by itself. Yet, the higher volume of long balls forced Minnesota’s defense to respect the perimeter, creating several lanes for the Terps to attack.
Sellers, in particular, was brutally effective in between the Minnesota defenders.
The veteran guard finished the second quarter with nine points and two assists, but her impact extended beyond the scoreboard. Golden Gopher defenders started dedicating heavy attention to Sellers, creating numerous looks for her teammates. She finished with 27 points — a season-high — and seven assists.
“She’s playing with so much poise,” Frese observed. “The game has really slowed down for her… she just wants to will the team [to victory].”
The 42-37 advantage that Maryland took into the second half looked destined to evaporate quickly. Minnesota scored on its first two possessions before forcing a Maryland turnover. But Christina Dalce’s defensive presence prevented the problems from worsening.
The Villanova transfer jumped a passing lane before sending the ball upcourt for an uncontested Kaylene Smikle three. That make pushed Maryland’s lead back to five.
As was the case against USC, it took Smikle some time to warm up, but the junior made a massive impact following the break. Her fifteen second-half points, along with a further 15 from Sellers and Allie Kubek, helped the Terps stretch their lead as high as 20.
Another significant factor in Maryland’s second-half improvement was a complete reversal of fortune on the boards. Having been outrebounded in the first half, Maryland outclassed the Golden Gophers in the second, pulling in 17 rebounds to Minnesota’s 9.
With that 20-point lead secured, the Terps eased off the gas pedal, allowing the Golden Gophers back into the game in a manner eerily reminiscent of the ending of their loss against USC. Minnesota embarked on a 16-0 run in less than two minutes to drop the Maryland lead to four with 30 seconds remaining in the game.
A frenzied finale ensued, as two free throws from Smikle pushed the Maryland lead back to six before a deep Minnesota three halved the advantage. Two more free throws from Smikle after a pair of Minnesota missed shots finally put the game out of reach.
The Terps collectively shot a perfect 21-for-21 from the charity stripe. Those points proved vital as Maryland fended off the Golden Gophers’ desperate run.
“We still need to work through the fourth quarter, I think that’s probably the most disappointing piece of the game,” Frese admitted. “But I’d rather learn lessons with a win versus a loss.”
With their first test passed, more lie ahead for the Terps. Minnesota is the first of four consecutive ranked opponents Maryland will face over the next two weeks.
The Terps’ next game comes against No. 7 Texas in the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Nathan Schwartz and Ryan Martin will have the call for WMUC Sports.
