Welcome to The Diamondback Sports Digest. Every week, we send you a rundown of the latest Maryland athletics news.

Men’s basketball has found its stride in conference play, defeating top opponents on the road and at Xfinity Center. The Terps’ latest victory has them likely to enter the Associated Press’ top 25 when the poll releases Monday afternoon.

In this week’s newsletter, we’ll talk about what’s changed for men’s basketball, the start of the men’s lacrosse campaign and women’s basketball’s eventful week.

Willard’s working magic

Ja’Kobi Gillespie puts his hands up after making a 3-pointer during Maryland men’s basketball’s 76-68 win against No. 17 Wisconsin on Jan. 29, 2025.(Neelay Sachdeva/The Diamondback)

After men’s basketball’s loss to Northwestern on Jan. 16, Maryland fell below .500 in Big Ten play and its NCAA tournament chances came into question. Maryland since rattled off four straight wins, including a pair against ranked foes.

The Terps paused their struggles on the road, an issue that’s plagued Willard’s squad since he joined in 2022. Then, they surged past No. 17 Wisconsin on Wednesday, 76-68.

Maryland held a slim lead at halftime against the Badgers. A DeShawn Harris-Smith 3-pointer midway through the second half began an 11-0 run that the Badgers couldn’t come back from. The stretch, considered a “kill shot” by statistician Evan Miyakawa, was the 24th time this season the Terps have scored 10 or more unanswered points — tied for the fourth-most in the country.

Maryland is off until Thursday, when it faces Ohio State in Columbus. Defeating the Buckeyes would further shoot the Terps up the Big Ten standings.

Lacrosse is back

Bryce Ford winds up to shoot during No. 6 Maryland men’s lacrosse’s 12-7 win against No. 18 Richmond on Feb. 1, 2025.(Akash Raghu/The Diamondback)

Maryland men’s lacrosse started its campaign the only way it knows how — by winning. The No. 6 Terps cruised past No. 18 Richmond 12-7 on Saturday.

Coach John Tillman brought in six transfers in the offseason to re-tool a roster that saw six of its top 10 scorers from last season depart. Matthew Keegan and Bryce Ford shined in their Maryland debuts.

Graduate student Logan McNaney, the latest Terp to don the program’s coveted No. 1 jersey, anchored a first-half shutout and finished with a 70 percent save rate. The defense, in its first game without former All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Ajax Zappitello, showed no signs of a setback.

Women’s basketball battled inconsistencies

Sarah Te-Biasu on the court during Maryland women’s basketball’s 87-52 win over Mount St. Mary’s on Dec. 3, 2024. (Jordan Budney/The Diamondback)

A three-game losing streak to ranked opponents dropped Maryland to No. 14 in the Associated Press poll. The Terps responded with a 82-73 victory over Penn State on Wednesday in a game they led from start to finish.

Senior guard Shyanne Sellers returned to the court after a two-game absence, totaling 10 points in 20 minutes of action.

Graduate student Sarah Te-Biasu starred in a larger role, but against Illinois at home on Sunday, the Terps fell, 66-65. Te-Biasu struggled, shooting 4-for-10 and missing six 3-pointers, while Sellers notched 14 points. The loss dropped the Terps to 1-4 in their past five games after a 16-1 start to the season.

Best bits

  • Maryland baseball opened a new indoor training facility before the 2025 season.
  • Maryland gymnastics snapped its two-meet losing streak with a narrow victory at the Rutgers Quad on Sunday.
  • Senior Rhea LeBlanc has turned into a consistent contributor for Maryland gymnastics.
  • Maryland wrestling hasn’t produced an All-American in coach Alex Clemsen’s tenure. Multiple Terps have a chance to change that this season.
  • Maryland football reportedly filled its offensive coordinator role, hiring Pep Hamilton, incoming freshman quarterback Jackson Hamilton’s father.

Stat of the week
Maryland men’s lacrosse’s win over Richmond was its 32nd straight season-opening victory, improving to 96-3-1 all-time in season openers.

Quote of the week

“I knew January was going to be hard with the two swing trips,” Willard said after Maryland’s win over Wisconsin. “I think the biggest thing is we’re getting a nice week here, a bye week, and just get these guys refreshed mentally going into what you want to be a fun February.”