COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Kaylene Smikle delivered an impressive performance, contributing 19 points to lead No. 8 Maryland to a close 72-66 win against No. 19 Michigan State on Sunday.

The Terrapins remained unbeaten with this victory, improving their record to 12-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, marking their best start since the 2018-19 season, where they also achieved a 12-0 record. Maryland managed to fend off a determined Michigan State squad, limiting the Spartans to just 32% shooting throughout the game.

Despite facing a 17-point deficit in the second quarter, Michigan State mounted a strong comeback to even the score at 57-57 in the fourth quarter. Maryland found themselves in a brief scoring slump lasting over six minutes before Saylor Poffenbarger broke the stalemate with a timely three-pointer.

With a narrow 65-63 lead, a key moment occurred when Jocelyn Tate of Michigan State was called for traveling during a fast break. Smikle then expanded the Terrapins’ advantage by completing a three-point play, but Jaddan Simmons quickly countered with a three-pointer, bringing the score to 68-66.

In the last minute of play, Christina Dalce created a crucial moment for Maryland by scoring a layup with 36.3 seconds on the clock and then securing a steal shortly after. The game had been physical throughout, and Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers showcased her talent in the second quarter with a dazzling behind-the-back pass to Bri McDaniel, who finished with a layup, extending Maryland’s lead to 31-16.

However, a more illustrative play came in the fourth quarter when McDaniel battled to force a held ball on defense but took a hard fall. After recovering, she returned to the game and hit an important three-pointer when her team needed it most.

Takeaways from the match highlighted Michigan State’s effort, as they nearly captured an upset despite their shooting struggles. They excelled on the boards during the second half, displaying relentless hustle. Maryland, on the other hand, managed to prevail despite committing 25 turnovers, demonstrating improved execution when it counted.

A significant turning point occurred after Dalce’s steal when Maryland quickly called a timeout to avoid any fouls before Michigan State could react, knowing that Dalce’s free-throw shooting was not at its best this season.

Key statistics reveal that Michigan State attempted 18 field goals in the final quarter, while Maryland took just nine shots, making only six of those attempts.

Looking ahead, Maryland is set to host Rutgers on Thursday night, while Michigan State will aim to end a two-game losing streak when they face Purdue at home on Wednesday.