COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Kaylene Smikle scored 19 points to help No. 8 Maryland remain undefeated with a 72-66 victory over No. 19 Michigan State on Sunday.
The Terrapins (12-0, 2-0 Big Ten) have their best start since 2018-19, when they also went 12-0. The Terps withstood a scrappy Michigan State team, holding the Spartans (11-2, 1-1) to 32% shooting from the field.
Michigan State trailed by 17 in the second quarter but fought back to a 57-all tie in the fourth. Maryland, which had gone over six minutes without scoring, broke that deadlock with a 3-pointer by Saylor Poffenbarger.
Maryland led 65-63 when Michigan State’s Jocelyn Tate was whistled for traveling on a fast break. Smikle pushed the lead to five with a three-point play, but Jaddan Simmons answered with a 3-pointer to make it 68-66.
Christina Dalce finally gave the Terps some breathing room, making a layup with 36.3 seconds left and then adding a steal at the other end.
It was a physical game in which points were often tough to come by, but Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers provided a moment of brilliance in the second quarter. She jumped to receive a long pass against Michigan State’s trapping defense and instantly whipped the ball behind her back to a cutting Bri McDaniel for a layup that put the Terrapins up 31-16.
A more representative moment came in the fourth, when McDaniel forced a held ball on defense but fell on her back with a thud. She was able to return eventually and made a big 3-pointer.
Michigan State: The Spartans nearly stole the game on the road despite poor shooting. They outworked Maryland on the boards in the second half
Maryland: The Terps won despite 25 turnovers, executing better down the stretch when they needed to.
After Dalce’s steal in the final minute, Maryland called a quick timeout before Michigan State was able to foul. Dalce is shooting below 50% from the line this season.
Michigan State attempted 18 field goals in the fourth quarter to Maryland’s nine — but made only six of them.
Maryland hosts Rutgers on Thursday night. Michigan State tries to snap a two-game skid when it hosts Purdue on Wednesday.
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