Maryland knocks off top-seeded Ohio State, advances to Big Ten Tournament semifinals

Fortunately for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, the Buckeyes aren’t likely to see Maryland in the NCAA Tournament. After an 82-61 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in Minneapolis, Maryland completed a perfect record against the Buckeyes in 2023-24.

In three meetings this season, the Terrapins have taken all three matchups against the Top 10-ranked Buckeyes. Of five losses all season for Ohio State, a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a majority came against the Terrapins.

And on Friday, it was Maryland star Shyanne Sellers causing myriad issues for the top-seeded team in the Big Ten Tournament.

“We had a lot of energy, a lot of focus in film. We had a one-day prep. I just love the team. Fifth-years gave us 53 points today, that’s huge for us. And I know we’re peaking at the right time,” Sellers said.

Sellers finished with a game-high 25 points, and added eight rebounds and seven assists. And, as Sellers said, the fifth-year players shined. Guard Faith Masonius added 15 points and 11 rebounds in a double-double effort. Plus with a pair of 19-point scorers, Jakia Brown-Turner and Brinae Alexander, meant Maryland had three players scoring more than the Buckeyes’ leading scorer.

Ohio State had four starters score in double figures, led by 16 from Rebeka Mikulasikova. But the Buckeyes bench players managed three total points.

“Our defense, I thought our resiliency,” Maryland head coach Brenda Frese said about what fueled the win. “We’ve had a lot of adversity this season, a lot of injuries and we’ve just stayed the course. I thought our defense brought it today. Our fifth-year seniors, they didn’t want to go home and you saw all of them show up.”

Maryland started the game sluggish, trailing Ohio State 17-12 after one quarter. Then a switch flipped and Maryland doubled up the Buckeyes in the second frame, 26-13, and leading for the rest of the game.

Sellers hit a 2-point runner in the lane to beat the first half buzzer in a sign of things to come.

“I think we finally have settled in,” Frese said at half. “We had some early foul trouble and that impacted us, but we’re just sharing the basketball and trying to make the right read, inside and out.”

And as the comfortable margin grew closer to a blowout in the second half, Sellers was caught looking at one of the TV cameras and saying something — unheard amid the cheers — to the camera.

She shared what the message was after the game.

“I said we’re peaking at the right time. We’re playing the No. 1 team. We knew we had to come in and be ready. I think that just shows our heart and will. Everything in March is about who wants it more,” Sellers said.