In March, it’s all about surviving and advancing.
That’s what Maryland women’s basketball did in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon, overcoming a 14-point first-quarter deficit to beat Illinois, 75-65.
Bri McDaniel, an All-Big Ten honorable mention, had 10 rebounds, three steals and a game-high 20 points as one of five to score in double figures for the No. 8 seed Terps, who had not overcome a deficit that large since beating James Madison on March 13, 2019, after trailing by as many as 19 points.
Maryland (18-12), which improved to 21-4 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament, will look to knock off top-seeded Ohio State for the first time in three meetings this season in a quarterfinal Friday at 12:30 p.m.
The Terps got 11 points and eight assists from All-Big Ten first-team selection Shyanne Sellers, 14 points and eight rebounds from Jakia Brown-Turner, 13 points and six boards from Allie Kubek off the bench and 12 points, six rebounds and three assists from Brinae Alexander.
Makira Cook, a second-team All-Big Ten selection, led the ninth-seeded Fighting Illini with 17 points but shot 7-for-24 from the field. The win was Maryland’s third this season against Illinois (14-15), which has never beaten the Terps in 17 matchups.
Maryland got off to a horrendous start. After it grabbed an early one-point lead, Illinois took control of the first quarter, going on a 16-3 run for a 20-7 advantage and holding the Terps to one made basket in 5:20. Maryland missed seven shots in the paint, made just 4 of 17 attempts overall and trailed 24-10 after one quarter.
The second, however, belonged the Maryland. The Terps cut the deficit to 10 by the midway point before going on a 14-6 run to close the quarter and enter halftime down 37-35. Maryland made four of its six 3-pointers in the frame, including two from Kubek, and McDaniel scored three layups as part of her seven points.
The Fighting Illini started the third quarter strong but the Terps again found their stride and took their first lead — one they would not relinquish — since it was 5-4 on a jumper by Sellers as Illinois went scoreless for 5:23 between the third and fourth quarters. Sellers made a layup on the next possession for a 53-50 lead and Brown-Turner, a second-team All-Big Ten selection, finished the third-quarter with a layup.
The Terps made 9 of 13 third-quarter field goal attempts while Illinois shot just 6-for-19 with seven missed shots in the paint.
The Fighting Illini trimmed the deficit to three early in the fourth but back-to-back layups by Kubek and McDaniel extended Maryland’s lead, and Illinois wouldn’t get within one possession the rest of the way as the Terps made 10 of their 14 free-throw attempts inside the final four minutes.
This story will be updated.
Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal
Maryland vs. Ohio State
Friday, 12:30 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network
