After cutting a 23-point deficit to single digits early in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, Maryland women’s basketball couldn’t finish off the dramatic comeback in an 87-73 loss to No. 10 Indiana before an announced 7,137 at Xfinity Center in College Park.
Thanks to a dominant third quarter in which they outscored the Hoosiers 29-16, the Terps pulled within 68-61 after a layup by Brinae Alexander with 8:57 left in the fourth. But Indiana responded with a 14-4 run to take an 82-65 lead with 4:15 remaining the put the game out of reach.
Maryland (12-9, 4-6 Big Ten) was led by Jakia Brown-Turner, who continued her hot streak with 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting. The North Carolina State transfer has scored 20 or more in each of her past four games, the first Terp to achieve that feat since Brionna Jones (Aberdeen) from March 4-19, 2017.
Bri McDaniel (15 points), Faith Masonius (11), Lavender Briggs (10), and Alexander (10) also scored in double digits for the Terps, who had five players with 10 or more points in a Big Ten game for the first time since Jan. 7, 2023, against Michigan State.
Maryland was without Shyanne Sellers, the team’s leader in points, rebounds, assists and blocks, after she was injured during the second quarter of Sunday’s 112-76 loss at Penn State. The Terps struggled to shoot and defend in the first half without her, allowing Indiana to take a 52-30 lead into the break.
“I think that first half was just on us. I think it was more about our energy and our effort, which is something that we try to pride ourselves with,” Alexander said. “I think we’re still trying to figure out what specifically it is with our starts but it’s something that we definitely want to lock in more because we know we need to start better.”
But the Terps sparked a 13-2 run in the third quarter to get back into the game and at one point made nine straight shots from the field. Maryland finished the game shooting 46.4% overall and 18-for-22 from the free throw line and outscored the Hoosiers 45-35 in the second half. But it was too little, too late.
“I was proud of our third quarter, our second half. I liked the response out of the locker room,” Terps coach Brenda Frese said. “I thought it said a lot. Took us too long obviously, in the first half I think the patience of losing Shy and turning around after Penn State and having one practice to insert Bri at the point and our rotations. That all has an impact when you lose a player like Shy.”
Indiana (18-2, 9-1) was led by Mackenzie Holmes and Sara Scalia, who combined for 45 points. Holmes also recorded 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. The Hoosiers have won 17 of their past 18 games, and their only two losses came against Stanford and Iowa, who are currently ranked No. 4 and No. 3, respectively, in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Maryland will have another big challenge Saturday when it completes its two-game homestand with a matchup against No. 3 Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark at Xfinity Center. The game will tip-off at 8 p.m. and be televised on Fox.
No. 3 Iowa at Maryland
Saturday, 8 p.m.
TV: Fox