No. 22 Maryland women pulled away in the second half for an 86-70 win over No. 12 Michigan State on Wednesday. The Terps snapped a four-game losing skid with their second top 16 ranked win of the season, giving the team a critical momentum boost in Big Ten play.
Oluchi Okananwa had another masterful performance with 23 points, five assists, and four rebounds. The balanced attack was Maryland's key to success—she was one of five Terps to score in double figures. Yarden Garzon added 16 points and five assists, Kyndal Walker scored 14, and Saylor Poffenbarger finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
Maryland's defense was relentless on the road. Maryland forced 20 turnovers, which led to 23 points, while holding Michigan State to 4 of 15 from 3. Maryland led 43-33 at halftime and broke the game open in the third quarter, essentially putting the game away early. The Spartans couldn't recover from the early deficit despite trailing by only 10 at the half.
The Spartans play Saturday at Penn State, while the Terrapins visit Nebraska on Saturday. Michigan State's loss drops them to 19-4 overall in Big Ten play, while the Terps improved to 18-6 overall with a crucial ranked victory. This win could spark Maryland's tournament chances as they head into the final stretch of the season.