- Maryland's 30-point third quarter flipped momentum after halftime
- Terrapins shot 66.7% from three-point range in second half
- Norfolk State committed 25 personal fouls impacting late-game strategy
- Spartans' 19-game win streak snapped in first NCAA Tournament loss
In a March Madness clash that tested fourth-seeded Maryland's championship pedigree, the Terrapins demonstrated why halftime adjustments separate contenders from pretenders. After trailing 32-30 at intermission, coach Brenda Frese's squad erupted for 30 third-quarter points behind Sarah Te-Biasu's clutch shooting. The sophomore guard sank back-to-back three-pointers to ignite a scoring barrage that saw Maryland convert all 12 free throws in the period.
Norfolk State's aggressive defense backfired as foul trouble mounted, with three starters reaching four personals by the 6:18 mark of the fourth quarter. We lost composure during critical stretches,admitted Spartans coach Larry Vickers, whose team surrendered 82 points - 22 above their season average. The MEAC champions showed resilience, cutting the deficit to 60-56 early in the final frame before Maryland's 12-2 knockout punch sealed their fate.
Regional basketball analysts note this matchup followed a familiar March pattern: 13 seeds now 2-11 against 4 seeds in women's tournament history. Maryland's ability to leverage home-court advantage at XFINITY Center (14-2 record this season) proved decisive, particularly their 18-4 edge in fast-break points. The Terps improved to 12-1 in NCAA opening-round games under Frese, showcasing their trademark tournament toughness.
Three critical factors emerged from this clash that could impact Monday's second-round matchup: Maryland's improved ball security (4 second-half turnovers vs 12 in first), Smikle's fourth-quarter leadership (8 points in final 5:18), and depth contributions from reserves like Hawa Doumbouya (9 rebounds). As Alabama prepares its game plan, they'll need solutions for Maryland's perimeter shooting - the Terps rank 11th nationally in three-point percentage since February 1.
This victory extends Maryland's streak of Sweet 16 appearances to 6 of last 8 tournaments, a testament to Frese's program-building. With Te-Biasu emerging as a new March hero (22 points, 4/7 from deep), the Terps appear poised for another deep run. But as Norfolk State proved for three quarters, survival in this tournament demands forty minutes of focused execution.