Eighteen turnovers plagued the Terrapins women’s basketball team through the first three quarters of its Jan. 2 tilt with then-No. 9 Ohio State, yet the Terps were in striking distance entering the final frame.
The Terps trailed 61-57 and had most of the 10,119 fans that packed into Xfinity Center that afternoon on their side. History also favored coach Brenda Frese’s bunch, which had won all 22 of their conference games as a member of the Big Ten since joining prior to last season.
But as the Terps faithful roared in an attempt to see its team overcome a small fourth-quarter deficit, the players on the court couldn’t secure enough late-game stops in the eventual 80-71 defeat.
The Terps cut the deficit to four three separate times during the final frame but didn’t come any closer against a Buckeyes squad that shot 57 percent (8-for-14) over the last 10 minutes. They know they’ll have to be better defensively down the stretch this time around when they travel to No. 7 Ohio State on Monday night with a chance to claim sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings.
“Getting better with our defense and just getting stops,” guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough said. “That was one of the things that hurt us down the stretch with our defense, and I need to take that responsibility in that just knowing where the best players on the floor are and just executing what the coaches give us.”
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The No. 5 Terps (21-2, 10-1 Big Ten) have improved in that category over the past month — they’re the top scoring defense in the conference, allowing 57.7 points per game — and have won nine straight contests following their home loss to the Buckeyes (18-4, 10-1).
Plus, with six games remaining for both teams, this matchup could go a long way in determining this year’s Big Ten regular-season champion.
“I’m excited,” Frese said. “I’m ready for the next test for us to see where we’re at in February, and I know it will be very easy to have these guys motivated and ready to play.”
Walker-Kimbrough said the Terps will enter this game with increased confidence stemming from back-to-back victories over teams in the top half of the Big Ten. The redshirt junior exploded for 41 points in her team’s rout of Purdue on Tuesday night and went for 30 points three days later against No. 17 Michigan State.
They will also go into Columbus, Ohio, with a road record of 7-0.
But to keep that perfect mark intact, they will have to slow the nation’s fourth-best scoring offense (85.3 points per game), led by guard Kelsey Mitchell, whose 24.7 points per game ranks third in the country. One of two Buckeyes named to the Wooden Award midseason top-20 list — guard Ameryst Alston is the other — Mitchell torched the Terps for 28 points in the teams’ first meeting this season.
“They’re one of the best in the country for a reason,” Walker-Kimbrough said. “We just got to lock in on tendencies. We pride ourselves on being the most prepared team going into a game.”
Despite the hype surrounding the nationally televised top-10 tilt, guard Brene Moseley views the contest like any other game and said the preparation will remain the same.
Nevertheless, the Terps recognized their struggles defensively late in that early January game. And they understand the importance of fixing their mistakes Monday night.
“Definitely just getting stops down the stretch and taking care of the ball,” center Brionna Jones said. “Just being able to execute on the offense down the stretch and tightening up.”
