EVANSTON, Ill. — In an exciting contest on Thursday night, the 21st-ranked Maryland women’s basketball team triumphed over Northwestern with a score of 85-79. Kaylene Smikle led the way for Maryland, contributing 23 points, while Saylor Poffenbarger added 16 points to support the win. Sarah Te-Biasu and Shyanne Sellers chipped in with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Maryland improved to 21 wins and 6 losses overall, with an 11-5 record in the Big Ten Conference. Their success from beyond the arc, hitting 9 out of 26 three-point attempts, contrasted sharply with Northwestern’s struggles, as they managed only 1 three-pointer out of 4 attempts.
Northwestern had notable performances from reserve Melannie Dailey, who scored 22 points, and Taylor Williams, who posted 18 points along with 10 rebounds. Caileigh Walsh contributed 15 points, while Grace Sullivan added 11 points off the bench. Despite their efforts, Northwestern’s inability to convert from the charity stripe hindered their performance, as they missed 11 free throws, finishing with a notable but disappointing 24-for-35.
The game started with Northwestern gaining an edge, but Smikle’s early three-point play quickly shifted momentum. Maryland wrestled control from that point, ending the first quarter with a 22-15 lead. They stretched their advantage, with Smikle’s layup extending the lead to 27-18 just before halftime, ultimately going into the break ahead 48-30.
Northwestern displayed resilience, narrowing the gap to 63-53 by the end of the third quarter. In a spirited fourth quarter, they surged back, outscoring Maryland 21-7 in just over six minutes and closing in on the visitors at 74-70, thanks to another layup from Dailey.
However, Te-Biasu hit a crucial three-pointer with just 53 seconds left, which capped off an 8-4 run for Maryland, pushing their lead to 82-74. From that point on, Maryland maintained their composure to secure the victory.
Looking ahead, Maryland will next face off against Indiana on February 27, while Northwestern prepares for its encounter with Wisconsin on Sunday.
