The Maryland women’s basketball team is marching to its fourth Sweet 16 in five years after a thrilling double-overtime win over Alabama, 111-108, on Monday. Maryland clawed back into the game after trailing by 17 points with just under three minutes in the third quarter.
However, the Terrapins went on a relentless rally, forced overtime, and watched an opportunity to win wash away in OT before pulling off the win in arguably the best tournament game in recent years.
Ultimately, Maryland’s star, Shyanne Sellers, put the Terrapins ahead with clutch free throws. Then, Sarah Te-Biasu grabbed the biggest steal of her collegiate career to seal the dramatic win.
Sarah Ashlee Barker shines despite Alabama’s loss
Alabama star guard Sarah Ashlee Barker put on an incredible performance. Barker finished her five-year collegiate career with a jaw-dropping 45 points.
Alabama was down by 10 in the mid-second quarter, losing 33-23. Barker led the Crimson Tide to a 10-0 run with six points of her own. Then she knocked down a corner three to give her team the lead.
She added eight rebounds and three assists. She put herself in the history books with the most points in a tournament game by any Alabama player. In addition to her historic performance, four of Barker’s teammates scored double-digit points.
- Sarah Ashlee Barker: 45 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
- Essence Cody: 18 points, 5 steals, 2 blocks
- Karly Weathers: 9 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds
- Aaliyah Nye: 11 points, 4 assists, 2 steals
- Zaay Green: 11 points, 5 assists
Despite Baker’s jaw-dropping game, Sellers led Maryland to the win with a season-high 28 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Her high scoring in the clutch pushed the team to the finish line and into the next round.
She wasn’t the only Terp to have a high-scoring game. The starting five were just as determined as she was to advance to the next round, as four starters scored 19+ points.
- Shyanne Sellers: 28 points, 9-9 free throws
- Sarah Te-Biasu: 26 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, 5-8 from three
- Kaylene Smikle: 24 points, 7 assists, 3 steals
- Allie Kubek: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists
Chaotic key moments lead to double OT
Maryland trailed by 12 early in the fourth quarter, following an and-one by Alabama’s Essence Cody. Desperate to keep their season alive, the Terps answered with a scoring barrage, chipping away at the deficit throughout the fourth.
Maryland closed the game with a pair of free throws by Sellers with 1:01 remaining. Barker responded with a three to put the Crimson Tide back in front with 37 seconds remaining. However, with the season on the line, Maryland’s guard Sarah Te-Biasu came away with the biggest shot of her career. Te-Biasu found Kaylen Smikle for a three, but Barker blocked her shot. Smikle followed her miss and kicked the ball back to Te-Biasu, who drained the game-tying three, sending the contest into its first overtime.
In the first overtime, Maryland seized control late. With six seconds left, Maryland owned a 95-93 lead and had Saylor Poffenbarger going to the free-throw line to extend the lead to four points. Unfortunately, Poffenbarger made 1-of-2 free throws, leaving Alabama with one final possession in OT.
As the buzzer sounded, Poffenbarer made matters worse, fouling Barker on a three-point attempt with the buzzer sounded. Barker shrugged off the pressure and knocked down all three free throws, tying the game for a second overtime.
Maryland seals deal in double OT
Maryland approached double overtime, knowing they blew an opportunity. Te-Biasu scored eight points in the second overtime. Her fifth-three pointer of the game gave the Terrapins a 106-100 lead. Alabama never recovered from that moment on.
Barker gave it her final push with a jumper that cut the deficit to 109-108 with 16 seconds remaining. Yet, Sellers extended Maryland’s lead with two free throws.
Maryland leaned on its defense to close out the game. The Tide’s Diana Collins missed a three that got deflected out of bounds. Alabama retained possession for one final chance with 1.8 seconds left.
Te-Biasu, who saved Maryland’s season with a regulation three, broke up the in-bound pass intended for Barker to seal the Terps’ trip to the Sweet 16.
The 219 combined points by both teams were the second-most scored in NCAA women’s tournament history. Only Alabama’s four-overtime thrilling win against Duke in 1995 had more combined points (241). That game was also in the second round and between a No. 4 and 5 seed.
Maryland will play Regional 2’s No. 1 seed and defending national champion, South Carolina, in Friday’s Sweet 16. The Terrapins and Gamecocks have met eight times, including a South Carolina win in a 2023 Regional Final.
