EVANSTON, Ill. — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, Kaylene Smikle delivered an impressive performance, scoring 23 points, while Saylor Poffenbarger contributed 16 points, leading the 21st-ranked Maryland to a victory over Northwestern with a final score of 85-79.
Alongside Smikle and Poffenbarger, Sarah Te-Biasu added 16 points, and Shyanne Sellers chipped in 12 for Maryland, who improved their record to 21-6 overall and 11-5 in the Big Ten. A significant factor in their win was their exceptional three-point shooting, making 9 out of 26 attempts, while Northwestern struggled from beyond the arc, only managing to convert 1 of 4 attempts.
For Northwestern, reserve player Melannie Dailey stood out with 22 points, while Taylor Williams notched 18 points and secured 10 rebounds. Caileigh Walsh scored 15 points, and Grace Sullivan contributed 11 off the bench for the Wildcats, whose overall record fell to 9-16 and 2-12 in conference play. The Wildcats faced challenges at the free-throw line, missing 11 out of their 35 attempts, finishing at 24 for 35.
Sorry to say, but the game did not start in Northwestern’s favor. After Smikle’s early three-point play, the Wildcats were on the defensive for most of the match. Maryland established an early lead, ending the first quarter 22-15, and increased it to double digits with a layup from Smikle, making it 27-18 with 8:38 remaining in the first half. Maryland took command, heading into halftime with a strong 48-30 advantage.
In the third quarter, Northwestern fought back, trimming the deficit to 63-53 by its conclusion. The Wildcats mounted a notable surge, outscoring Maryland 21-7 in just over six minutes, closing the gap to 74-70 following a layup from Dailey with just 3:42 left in the game.
However, Maryland’s Te-Biasu hit a crucial three-pointer with 53 seconds left, contributing to an 8-4 run that elevated the lead to 82-74, allowing the Terps to maintain their advantage until the final buzzer.
Looking ahead, Maryland will be traveling to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers on February 27, while Northwestern prepares to face Wisconsin on Sunday.
