With two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game, it seemed abundantly clear that No. 15 Maryland women’s basketball had lost to No. 10 Iowa.
The Terps trailed by 11 and were completely without offensive momentum. Yarden Garzon had fouled out minutes prior, and the Terps’ other main contributors had fallen flat.
The Terps desperately needed a run. They finally got it, but it seemed too little, too late — some of the crowd had already left.
But it wasn’t over. The Terps miraculously
forced overtime as Oluchi Okananwa tied the game with a deep heave, sending everyone left in the Xfinity Center crowd into a craze. But Maryland’s comeback effort wasn’t sustained in the extra period, and it eventually fell to the Hawkeyes, 85-78.
“It was approaching a blowout when we were down 17,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “To be able to fight and claw. That’s the beauty of this locker room, just their mentality.”
Through three quarters, the Hawkeyes’ defense held Okananwa to one point. The junior is Maryland’s leading scorer, and she came in averaging 17.3 points per game. But Iowa’s defense completely limited her production, forcing the Terps to go to their other options.
However, after committing her fourth foul, Okananwa found life and exploded for 11 points in the fourth frame. But in overtime, she fouled out. Without her and Garzon, the Terps once again fell flat. The Terps had the lead, but all momentum was lost after losing their leading scorer.
“We had to have Oluchi [Okananwa] on the floor. She was getting downhill, and especially with both teams in the bonus, that was impactful, losing her with her fifth foul,” Frese said.
Iowa’s defensive strategy focused on double-teaming Okananwa and preventing her from driving inside. It worked, and she was limited to jumpers until late. In the interim, Maryland was forced to rely on Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu and Kyndal Walker offensively. It wasn’t a recipe for success.
Walker looked confident from midrange and was Maryland’s primary ball-handler as one of two available guards. She was confident and effective, but the Terps couldn’t rely solely on the redshirt freshman in a top-15 matchup.
“My teammates have picked us up in multiple games,” Walker said. “It was a tough night for others, and that’s why you had the depth. That’s why you come to Maryland, because everyone’s capable of scoring.”
When Maryland’s comeback took shape, it was ultimately its key contributors that delivered. Like Okananwa, Saylor Poffenbarger and Addi Mack were silent until the fourth quarter but woke up late. The pair combined for 11 points in Maryland’s comeback effort in the fourth.
Poffenbarger sank a crucial 3-pointer to help the Terps storm back, but her overall performance was pedestrian. She finished with seven points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Iowa controlled almost all of the pace of Thursday’s game and held a consistent lead until nine seconds remaining in regulation.
Despite a lackluster performance from the Terps throughout most of the game, they remained within striking distance. Iowa led by as much as 17 in the fourth frame before the comeback, but it led by no more than 10 for the majority of the game.
And while Maryland’s defense kept it somewhat close, it also had some detrimental meltdowns. The Terps were intentional in allowing Ava Heiden and Hannah Stuelke to take midrange shots, and that strategy proved effective.
However, the Hawkeyes took advantage from other areas — both inside and from deep. From downtown, they shot 5-of-10 (50%) in the first half. The Terps have been outshot from 3-point range as of late, and it continued on Thursday — they missed their first seven attempts. Chit-Chat Wright and Taylor McCabe combined for seven of Iowa’s eight 3-pointers.
For most of Thursday evening, it was an ugly performance. The Terps headed into the final 10 minutes needing a run and were in serious foul trouble at the same time. Okananwa, Ozzy-Momodu and Garzon all had at least three fouls at that point.
“Players have to be on the floor. We can’t get in foul trouble,” Frese said. “Iowa made more plays than us today. Every time we closed the door and got there, there was an impactful play that they were able to make.”
After getting destroyed by UCLA, Maryland needed a bounce-back night. It didn’t get the win, but the fourth quarter comeback should serve as an encouraging sign.
“Opportunities for us as we move forward, the conference is going to humble you and keep you hungry and is going to prepare us for what lies ahead in March,” Frese said.
The Terps have now lost three of their last four contests.
Three things to know
1. A 17-point comeback. The start of the fourth quarter was controlled by Iowa. The Terps were in foul trouble, and the game seemed en route to a disappointing defeat. Despite the loss, the Terps can use the momentum of Thursday’s comeback to finish a tough slate of ranked opponents.
2. Kyndal Walker is coming into her own. For most of Thursday’s contest, Walker was Maryland’s main contributor. She finished with 15 points on 6-of-16 (37.5%) shooting and showed a confidence that she hadn’t had prior.
“It gives me confidence,” Walker said. “My role changes every game, so I like to show up because one night might be defense, one night might be scoring. For me, it’s just staying ready.”
3. Ozzy-Momodu’s cramps. Ozzy-Momodu had to leave the game twice, limping off the court with cramps. She returned both times, but it was certainly a concerning moment for Frese’s staff, considering the litany of injuries the team has suffered.
