Maryland women’s basketball looked finished on Monday after facing a deficit as large as 17 points in the third quarter. Senior guard Shyanne Sellers sat for a majority of that frame with four personal fouls. Alabama seemingly knocked down every shot.
It felt like another game that went awry from the Terps, similar to double-digit losses against Nebraska and Michigan earlier in the campaign. Maryland even held a 10-point lead in the second quarter, but let it slip away before the first half finished.
Sellers said the goal was to bring the score to within single digits at the start of the fourth period, which the Terps accomplished. Then, a nine-point swing in the ensuing quarter forced overtime.
“Overtime is our time,” coach Brenda Frese recalled saying to her team in a huddle.
Sarah Te-Biasu and Sellers made sure Maryland won the extra periods to earn another game this season. The duo’s performances pushed the Terps to their fourth Sweet 16 in the last five years in a 111-108 double-overtime victory over the Crimson Tide.
[Maryland women’s basketball rallies in 111-108 overtime win over Alabama in second round]
Both players played the entire 10 minutes of additional time. Sellers and Te-Biasu combined for 19 of Maryland’s 28 total points in the two overtime frames, which was needed as junior guard Kaylene Smikle fouled out of the contest.
Te-Biasu has emerged as one of the Terps’ biggest threats from three-point range in the latter stages of the season. The guard went 6-for-8 from deep in their first round triumph over Norfolk State and hit similar numbers on Monday, nailing five treys with a crucial pair in overtime.
She kicked off the second overtime with a 3-pointer from the wing, a spot where she’s become very comfortable shooting the ball. The graduate student splashed in a trey from the same location in the first round to secure a victory and hit a floater to beat Ohio State earlier this month.
A 3-pointer from the top of the key rattled through the rim minutes later. An uptick in tries from deep has led to plenty of makes, which Te-Biasu showcased in overtime.
“My teammates, they always keep telling me, ‘Keep shooting,’” Te-Biasu said.
[Allie Kubek’s experience steadied Maryland women’s basketball in win over Norfolk State]
Sellers did her job from the free throw line, a spot that can be nerve-racking in close games. But she feels they’re just “easy money shots.” She was perfect in seven overtime attempts, knocking down four in the final period.
Despite all the offensive heroics, the game still came down to one final defensive stand. Sellers caused havoc for Alabama inbounder Karly Weathers, and Te-Biasu knocked a pass out of the hands of Sarah Ashlee Barker as the clock bled to zero.
Saylor Poffenbarger hoisted Te-Biasu in the air and Sellers shared a hug with Frese.
The Terps never trailed in overtime. Te-Biasu and Sellers exited Xfinity Center with their best performances of the year in their final home outing, helping capture Frese’s 17th overtime victory at Maryland.
No. 1 seed South Carolina awaits the No. 4 seed Terps on Friday in Birmingham, Alabama. It will be difficult for Maryland to knock off the SEC champions that have only lost three times all year.
The Terps’ hardships could inspire them to continue in the NCAA tournament.
“Through all the injuries and adversity that we’ve faced, this group could have folded at any point,” Frese said. “I think that’s what’s so special, is the journey that you get to have with this team and to be able to kind of watch it unfold tonight.”
