With three seconds left in the half, Saylor Poffenbarger reached out for a pass. Poffenbarger took two dribbles before aiming her floating jump shot just before the clock expired.
The buzzer-beater tied the game at half. Poffenbargers’ shot marked the last time Maryland women’s basketball would trail against George Mason.
For most of the Terps’ first seven games, they’ve controlled games with ease. They found themselves in a competitive contest in the first half on Sunday, but Maryland pulled away to beat the Patriots 84-62 at Xfinity Center.
The Terps and George Mason aren’t unfamiliar to close games. Maryland earned a nine-point win over the Patriots last year. George Mason is 4-1 this year — its lone loss came against Temple in their season opener.
Oluchi Okananwa carried the Terps’ offensive efforts. She put up 13 points in the first two quarters, more than doubling her teammates’ production. Okananwa’s speed and precision make her a significant asset on both ends of the court.
[Maryland women’s basketball thrashes Bethune-Cookman, 95-49, despite limited guard play]
Teams have struggled to slow down Okananwa. The Duke transfer is now the Terps’ leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game. Okananwa controlled the fast-paced matchup on Sunday, delegating the ball with five assists and four rebounds.
Terp fans cheered as Okananwa walked off the court with two minutes left, her arms spread wide. She’s endeared herself to College Park with her defensive intensity, fast-paced transition play, and energetic personality.
George Mason’s Zahira Walton matched Okananwa’s scoring, operating the Patriots’ offense. She posted 27 points, the most by any player in the matchup. The talent on George Mason was concentrated in a few players — Walton and Kennedy Harris were the only two in double digits.
After a career-high 13 points in the Terps’ last match against Bethune-Cookman, Kyndal Walker started at point guard on Sunday. Walker, who didn’t play much in the early portion of the season, has appeared to re-earn a spot in coach Brenda Frese’s rotation.
True freshmen guards Addi Mack and Rainey Welson were dressed on the bench on Sunday. Welson has been out for three games, and Mack missed the last matchup due to an ankle injury. Mack returned to the court Sunday, scoring 12 points in 21 minutes.
[Saylor Poffenbarger fulfills a lifelong dream playing for Maryland women’s basketball]
At the end of the first quarter, the Terps were trailing by one point for the first time all season. Maryland continued to fall behind in the second quarter, slowly working to fill the deficit.
It was the Terps’ veterans who pulled them out of their rut. Fueled by Poffenbarger’s tying shot, Maryland widened the lead in the second half, scoring 32 third quarter points. After spending the past couple of weeks settling in, Yarden Garzon notched sixteen points, her career-high as a Terp.
Garzon also led the Terps’ defense, recording nine rebounds and helping the team force 21 turnovers with their on-court press. The veteran leadership from Okananwa and Garzon kept Maryland undefeated with a perfect nonconference record.
