Maryland Holds Off Penn State in Victory

In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, the No. 14 ranked Maryland Terrapins triumphed over Penn State with a final score of 82-73, thanks in large part to standout performances by Sarah Te-Biasu and Kaylene Smikle. Te-Biasu contributed 20 points, while Smikle added 17 as Maryland secured their much-needed win after enduring a three-game slump against ranked opponents.

The Terrapins started strong, quickly taking the lead by scoring the first eight points of the game. They maintained their momentum throughout the first half, finishing with a 41-24 advantage at halftime, fueled by an impressive shooting percentage of 61.5% in that period. A significant 13-2 run in the first quarter allowed them to establish an early double-digit lead, which they held onto until the fourth quarter began.

However, Penn State made a spirited comeback, opening the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to narrow the gap to 62-57. Despite trailing by as many as 21 points in the second half, the Nittany Lions managed to edge closer, with Gabby Elliott shining brightly; she scored 19 of her total 23 points during the fourth quarter while shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the field.

Maryland, however, steadied themselves and regained control of the game, going on to make seven consecutive field goals, three of which were knocked down by Smikle. This offensive burst pushed their lead to 79-69 with just 1:19 left on the clock. Saylor Poffenbarger also made a mark on the scoreboard with 14 points, and Shyanne Sellers returned from a two-game absence, contributing 10 points of her own to the team’s effort. Despite their triumph, the Terrapins struggled with ball security, committing 23 turnovers that led to 27 points for the Nittany Lions.