SEATTLE — In a thrilling comeback, Kaylene Smikle delivered a stellar performance with 36 points, hitting 13 of her 18 attempts from the field, while Shyanne Sellers contributed 15 points as the No. 16 Maryland Terrapins overcame a significant 15-point deficit to defeat the Washington Huskies with a score of 81-73 on Sunday.
The Terrapins improved their record to 19-5 overall and 9-4 in the Big Ten by showcasing their efficiency, making 30 of 60 shots from the field and dominating the boards with a 40-29 rebound advantage.
A surge from Washington saw Dalayah Daniels and Sayvia Sellers each contribute six points during a pivotal 12-0 run, narrowing the margin to just 67-63 with about four and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, Smikle quickly answered back with a three-point play, ensuring the Huskies could not get any closer.
Leading the Huskies, Elle Ladine scored 23 points, knocking down five three-pointers, while Shyanne Sellers added 19 points, and Daniels notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Washington found early success from beyond the arc, converting four three-pointers, allowing them to establish a strong 23-8 lead late in the first quarter.
Despite the early deficit, Maryland made strides, scoring 13 of the following 17 points to reduce the gap to six early in the second period. After a timely three-pointer from Hannah Stines extended Washington’s lead to 30-21, the Huskies faced a rough patch, missing six consecutive shots. This opened the door for Maryland, which seized the momentum and launched a decisive 17-1 run, culminating with a three-pointer from Allie Kubek that helped the Terrapins take a 44-36 lead into halftime.
Shyanne Sellers, whose father Brad Sellers was the ninth overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft, also excelled with five assists, surpassing Alyssa Thomas’s previous record of 488 assists to take fifth place all-time at Maryland with 492 assists. Notably, Thomas holds a WNBA record with 15 out of 34 triple-doubles in the league’s history throughout her successful 11-year career.
Looking ahead, Maryland will return home to face Nebraska on Thursday, while Washington prepares for a road matchup against Oregon on Wednesday.
