Welcome back to The Diamondback Sports Digest. Every week, we send you a rundown of the latest Maryland athletics news.
The Terps drew national attention this week. Men’s lacrosse avenged last year’s national championship loss to Notre Dame, women’s basketball secured a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament and men’s basketball lost on a half-court heave to Michigan State in a sold-out Xfinity Center.
Men’s lacrosse defeats No. 1 Notre Dame
Maryland men’s lacrosse decisively lost to Notre Dame in the 2024 national title game, 15-5. The Terps took advantage of their chance at a rematch on Saturday in Atlanta, defeating the Fighting Irish 11-10.
Coach John Tillman’s team excelled in the third quarter. A two-goal spurt from graduate student attacker Bryce Ford to start the period gave Maryland a lead it held on to for the final 23 minutes and 33 seconds. Graduate student goalkeeper Logan McNaney made four saves in the frame and 11 overall in the second half.
“The whole environment felt like a Final Four environment which is pretty special,” Tillman said.
The Terps became just the second team to defeat the Fighting Irish since the start of last season. Maryland will likely become the nation’s No. 1 team when rankings are released this week, a remarkable start to the season considering the players it lost in the offseason.
Women’s basketball enters Big Ten tournament on hot streak
After men’s basketball’s loss on Wednesday, women’s basketball ended its regular season on the opposite end of the spectrum. Graduate student Sarah Te-Biasu nailed a running 3-pointer with one second left to lift the No. 19 Terps to a 93-90 overtime win over No. 12 Ohio State on Sunday.
The win vindicated Maryland’s loss to the Buckeyes in January and secured the Terps as the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament.
“In shootaround we do a competition with the half-court shot, and I made it.” Te-Biasu said. “It’s crazy, after that today, I just made that shot.
Maryland’s guard trio of Te-Biasu, junior Kaylene Smikle and senior Shyanne Sellers scored a combined 62 points against the Buckeyes. The Terps ended the regular season on a high note, winning their final four games and seven of their last eight.
Mixed results for men’s basketball
Wednesday night’s contest between No. 16 Maryland and No. 8 Michigan State was one of the most anticipated games in recent history. The Terps left disappointed, as the Spartans’ Tre Holloman’s buzzer-beating shot from beyond 50 feet stunned Maryland.
Coach Kevin Willard called the loss the most gut wrenching of his career. The Terps’ offense struggled mightily, shooting just 31 percent from the field and 20 percent from three-point range with zero bench points.
Maryland recovered against Penn State on Saturday, defeating the Nittany Lions, 68-64, snapping their skid in State College. The Terps are tied with Purdue and Wisconsin for the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten, but a big game against No. 15 Michigan this week could change that.
Best Bits
- The “Crab Five” nickname isn’t just fun for men’s basketball fans. It’s also putting money in players’ pockets.
- Maryland baseball entered the weekend with a record below .500. It exited North Carolina with three wins, including a marquee victory over No. 12 Wake Forest on Saturday.
- Maryland wrestling could send its most wrestlers to the NCAA Championships this season under coach Alex Clemsen.
- Maryland softball’s Sammi Woods looked like a potential superstar during her freshman season. But after a disappointing sophomore campaign, she’s made key mechanical and mental changes.
- Logan McNaney struggled in Maryland men’s lacrosse national title loss to Notre Dame last season. Ten months later, he saved the Terps against the Fighting Irish.
Stat of the week
Maryland men’s basketball’s win over Penn State Saturday was the program’s first victory in State College since 2015.
Quote of the week
“Illinois spoiled our Senior Night and it was time to spoil somebody else’s,” Sellers said after Maryland women’s basketball’s 74-60 win Thursday over Indiana.
