The Gophers women’s basketball team makes a late charge but falls short against Maryland

No. 8 Maryland asserted itself in the second half and then held on for a 99-92 win over No. 24 The Gophers women’s basketball team on Tuesday in College Park, Md.

The Terrapins, who led 42-37 at halftime, opened up a 20-point lead with three minutes left. But the Gophers, in their first game as a top 25-ranked team since January 2019, used a 16-0 run to pull within 93-89 with 36 seconds left.

Kaylene Smikle made two free throws with 29 seconds left to end the Gophers run, but a three-pointer by Annika Stewart got the Gophers within 95-92 with 20 seconds left.

Smikle made four more free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal the Terrapins’ eighth straight victory over the Gophers. Maryland was perfect from the line for the game, going 21-for-21.

Shyanne Sellers scored a season-high 27 points to lead the Terrapins (16-1, 6-1 Big Ten), who won their 22nd straight when they led after three quarters. Smikle scored 19 points.

“Great win for us to be able to come home here as we open this stretch of games against four ranked teams and end a really grueling six-game travel stretch in less than two weeks,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. “Minnesota is second in the country in points allowed, coming in at just 51 points (Tuesday), so we knew they were going to be really good, fight and be physical (so) credit them. I thought they never gave up and played until the end.”

Amaya Battle scored 19 points and Grace Grocholski scored 16 to lead the Gophers (16-2, 4-2 Big Ten), who were riding a six-game winning streak. Mallory Heyer contributed 15 points before fouling out in the final two minutes, and Sophie Hart added 14 points for the Gophers.

The Gophers led 19-17 after one quarter before the Terrapins built a 42-37 halftime lead after a first half that saw 11 lead changes and six ties.