Maryland women’s basketball’s offense is diverse. Any scorer can contribute in any game. Kaylene Smikle was the catalyst Thursday night.
The junior scored 23 points on a 7-for-15 shooting display. No. 21 Maryland used the performance to survive a late scare in a win over the Wildcats, 85-79, at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois. It is the Terps’ seventh straight win against Northwestern. Smikle recorded her 10th game with more than 20 points this season.
“On the road, we know that we have to play more together, and come out and give teams first punch,” Smikle said. “Every time we’re away, we always buy into that. And we’re consistent with coming on road games and giving first punch.”
The Terps won their ninth true road game this year — a meeting they had to win. The Terps (21-6, 11-5 Big Ten) are now tied with Illinois and Ohio State for the third-most Big Ten wins in the conference, keeping pace in their attempt to earn a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament with two more regular-season contests left.
Smikle has carried the scoring load with Maryland shorthanded at the guard position. Bri McDaniel has been sidelined a month with a season-ending ACL injury while Shyanne Sellers still battles a knee sprain.
[Maryland women’s basketball’s Christina Dalce uses 3×3 play to mold her game]
The Terps leaned on Smikle’s presence early against the Wildcats. The guard netted five quick points in the first quarter, including a layup through contact, which she followed with a made free throw. Smikle was responsible for two of Maryland’s first four field goals and ended the opening frame with eight points.
Maryland’s defense backed the guard’s display and propelled a seven-point lead by the end of the first quarter. Northwestern (9-16, 2-12 Big Ten), who entered the game as one of the better ball protectors in the conference, committed nine turnovers in that first quarter alone. Maryland capitalized with 11 points off of those giveaways.
Maryland forced seven more Northwestern giveaways in the second quarter, leading to nine points.
The Terps also had first-half success in the paint. Maryland made seven layups in the first quarter and continued the success with 22 points in the paint in the first half — growing the Terps’ lead to 18 by the break.
Smikle scored 13 in the half, while guard Saylor Poffenbarger added 14. It was Smikle’s first time in double digits since Feb. 9.
[Shyanne Sellers exits late in Maryland women’s basketball’s 85-77 win over Michigan]
The Wildcats decreased the Terps’ lead with a 9-0 run in the third. Maryland scored only 15 points in the frame, with nine coming from Smikle and Poffenbarger. Sellers was responsible for the other six on two 3-pointers, marking a new season-high with four.
“I think [we needed to] settle down and go back to what was working. Staying composed,” Sellers said. “I think we let them speed us up. … If we finish like this [in the postseason], we’re going home.”
Without Poffenbarger, struggles carried into the fourth. Smikle picked up her fourth just over a minute into the frame. Northwestern forced a string of three turnovers, cutting its deficit to as low as four.
Despite seven turnovers in the fourth quarter, Maryland held on. Timely free throws from Smikle and a 3-pointer from Sarah Te-Biasu secured another conference win.
“We need our guard play to start learning from these mistakes,” coach Brenda Frese said. “It’s good that [we now have] a bye week. It’s a chance to get some rest and get back.”
