No.7 Maryland overcame a slow start and comeback against Purdue, winning streak now at 10.
Saturday afternoon had Maryland fans on edge after an ugly first half this season. In the second half, the Terps showed resilience and stayed the course to win their tenth straight victory.
The Keys to Success
A Tale of Two Halves
That first quarter…..one word: Damn…The Terps scored only six points. But the Boilermakers did not make it any easier, and the stats don’t lie. Shooting 11.7 from the field (2-17) and missed eight three-pointers. The biggest issue was missing layups; our reliable three-pointer shooters could not buy a shot. The second quarter showed some improvement, but the defensive side of the ball could have been better. While, as a team, the Terps scored 23 points, Purdue’s offense made things hard to contain at times. Whether it was Reshunda Jones, Reagan Bass, etc, it was an all-out contribution. Final second half stats
Going into halftime, the Terps were down 16 points on the road. At that point, most teams have two options: throw the white flag or come out fighting. The second half saw the Terps’ resiliency and poise. The stats will paint the picture: the Terps outperformed the Boilermakers. Purdue quickly fell into bad habits as they did not have answers against the Terps’ comeback.
It Was a Team Win
Debunking the narrative that Maryland’s returning starters can have a lousy game officially ended on Saturday afternoon. It has been emphasized that they are playing strong all four quarters. Maryland had five players in double figures. Saylor Poffenbarger finished with her third straight double-double (17 points & 13 rebounds). Kaylene Smikle had a clutch three late in the fourth quarter (13 points). Christina Dalce recorded a double-double (10 points & 11 rebounds). Shyanne Sellers and Bri McDaniel respectfully finished with 12 & 16 points. For the Terps, they proved that each game, and how you play it, will be a battle. The team had three games in four days.
Maryland returns home on December 19th as they take on William & Mary.
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