Okon Ekpenyong, with On the move with SportzKelzMedia  

Maryland wins 111-108 against Alabama after trailing by 17 points, ensuring their season continues with a 12th Sweet 16 appearance under Coach Frese, a significant milestone only a few teams have achieved in the tournament.

The Maryland and Alabama game is the most exhilarating encounter of this year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, no matter the final score. Both teams demonstrated incredible perseverance, exchanging baskets in an intense fourth quarter, leading to a double-OT.  

Next up, the team is set to face the top-seeded defending champion, South Carolina, a match that will surely be a nail-biter. The Hoosiers certainly posed a challenge for the defending champions, but reliable contributions from both the Gamecocks’ starters and bench, coupled with their zone defense, enabled them to continue their championship pursuit.

The game was a hard-fought battle from the beginning to the end. Maryland trailed by as many as 17 points but mounted a comeback, tying the game 12 times and momentarily taking the lead occasionally. There were a total of six lead changes throughout the match.

Maryland concluded the first quarter with a 19-15 advantage, mainly due to the efforts of Shyanne Sellers and Sarah Te-Biasu. However, in the second quarter, Alabama leveled the score at 33 and went into halftime leading 41-39. During the second half, Parker from Alabama began to shine, forcing Maryland to face a 17-point deficit in the third quarter.

Maryland managed to cut the lead down with three players scoring over 20 points, including 19 from Allie Kubek. Alabama capitalized with 60 points in the paint, while Maryland scored 38, contributing significantly to Alabama’s lead. Nonetheless, Maryland secured more rebounds at 46-37, aiding them with second-chance points and giving them an edge of 22-12. Both teams had equal fast breaks and bench points. Ultimately, Alabama’s foul trouble and lack of scoring from other contributors contributed to their loss.

In overtime, Sarah Parker of Alabama was unstoppable, dropping a season-high 45 points and stepping up in a big way, especially during both overtimes. However, because many key players dealt with foul issues or had already fouled out, it hurt the team eventually.

Te-Biasu of Maryland hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 83, forcing another overtime. In the second overtime, Te-Biasu scored another three to kick off the double overtime and later made a key stop on the final possession. As Parker’s teammate attempted to pass her the ball, the Maryland defense intercepted it, sealing the game.

Maryland’s Te-Biasu played for fifty minutes, Sellers for forty minutes, and Smikle for thirty-five minutes. Each scored over twenty points, determined to advance the team to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year.

This victory holds significance not only for Maryland but is also vital for the Big Ten. The conference has faced difficulties, posting a 1-4 record on Sunday and a 1-5 today, making Maryland’s win a much-needed boost. USC is scheduled to play later tonight; a win would boost the Big Ten’s daily record to 2-5. The only remaining teams from the Big Ten Conference are Maryland, USC, and UCLA, following an unprecedented twelve teams entering the tournament.

Iowa, the NCAA Women’s Basketball runner-up for the last two years, faced challenges against Oklahoma, where six players scored over 10 points, illustrating the critical role of bench contributions in these matchups.

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