COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In a Thursday night matchup, the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins maintained their perfect season record by defeating Rutgers with a score of 78-61. Shyanne Sellers led the scoring for Maryland, contributing 22 points, while Allie Kubek added 17 points to the team’s total. Kaylene Smikle also made an impact, scoring 13 points for the Terrapins, who improved to 13-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference. The Scarlet Knights, now at 8-6 and 0-3 in conference play, saw their leading scorer Destiny Adams put in 15 points before fouling out with just under eight minutes left in the game.
The game had a decisive tone, with Maryland building an 18-point advantage by halftime and maintaining a firm grip on the lead throughout the second half. Rutgers struggled with ball possession, committing 24 turnovers, which significantly hindered their offensive efforts. Kiyomi McMiller notably scored all of her 14 points in the first half, including a half-court shot that capped off the first quarter. Despite this effort, Rutgers ended the first period behind, trailing 19-13.
The trend of the rivalry has leaned heavily in Maryland’s favor, as Rutgers has now lost their last 10 encounters against the Terrapins. This defeat matched their largest loss of the season, equaling a previous 66-49 defeat against Princeton. In contrast, Maryland enjoyed a much more comfortable win compared to their narrow escape against Michigan State just days prior. However, upcoming contests against Iowa and Southern California are anticipated to provide tougher challenges.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Maryland led 21-18 and subsequently went on an 11-0 scoring run. This surge established a lead that they would not give up for the remainder of the match. In terms of performance, Maryland improved upon their average of nearly 24 free throw attempts per game, making a notable 27 out of 32 on Thursday, enhancing their scoring opportunities at the line.
Looking ahead, Maryland is set to face No. 23 Iowa on Sunday night, while Rutgers will host No. 4 USC on the same evening. Both teams will aim to improve their standing as the season progresses.
