WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Defense and rebounding led the way for No. 8 Maryland Monday night in a 58-55 win at Purdue. With the win, the Terrapins (25-3, 14-3 B1G) clinched their fourth Big Ten regular season title in their five years in the league and 10th conference title under head coach Brenda Frese.
Junior Kaila Charles scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Terps to their second straight victory.
Junior Stephanie Jones added 16 points, including three big free throws late, and 14 points in the second half. Freshman Taylor Mikesell had 10 points for the Terrapins and fellow freshman Shakira Austin grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds with eight blocks.
Freshman Kayana Traylor scored a season high with 18 points to lead Purdue (17-13, 8-9). Ae'Rianna Harris contributed 14 points and Dominique Oden 12 points.
The Boilermakers led much of the first half as Maryland shot under 30 percent in the first quarters. Foul trouble benched Jones and the Terrapins trailed 29-23 at the break.
Purdue used a 7-0 run to take a 39-29 lead in the third quarter. Trailing 43-34 with 2:42 left in the third quarter, the Terrapins went on a 13-0 run to take a 47-43 edge with 6:01 to play. Purdue ended its 9-minute-plus scoring drought with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter to cut Maryland's lead to 47-45 on a layup by Oden.
Junior Blair Watson hit one of two free throws with 21.4 seconds left. Oden was fouled on a 3-point shot and hit all three free throws to narrow the deficit to 55-52 with 19.7 seconds to go.
Jones was fouled and hit one of two free throws to push the lead to 56-52. Traylor sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one point with 6.8 seconds to go. Jones was fouled and hit both free throws with 6 seconds left.
Charles was named Big Ten Player of the Week Monday for the second time in her career and her ninth career weekly honor. Charles led the Terrapins to a come-from-behind victory over Minnesota Thursday night in College Park. She scored 12 of her 29 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-tying and game-winning buckets.
Next, the Terrapins will return home to host Illinois (10-18, 2-15) Saturday at 2 p.m. for the Terps' annual Senior Day game. Maryland will honor senior Brianna Fraser prior to Saturday's game. For tickets, click here.
Saturday's game is also Brianna Fraser bobblehead day. All fans in attendance will receive a scratch off ticket upon entry into the arena and 500 lucky fans will take home a Brianna Fraser bobblehead.
The Maryland-Illinois game will be streamed online live through BTN2Go.com and the BTN Plus app. Fans can watch with their BTN Plus subscriptions.
The Terps-Illini game is one of five women's basketball games broadcast on the Maryland Radio Network. The Terps-Illini matchup can be heard on 980 DC and 1300 in Baltimore, as well as online here.
Junior Kaila Charles scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Terps to their second straight victory.
Junior Stephanie Jones added 16 points, including three big free throws late, and 14 points in the second half. Freshman Taylor Mikesell had 10 points for the Terrapins and fellow freshman Shakira Austin grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds with eight blocks.
Freshman Kayana Traylor scored a season high with 18 points to lead Purdue (17-13, 8-9). Ae'Rianna Harris contributed 14 points and Dominique Oden 12 points.
The Boilermakers led much of the first half as Maryland shot under 30 percent in the first quarters. Foul trouble benched Jones and the Terrapins trailed 29-23 at the break.
Purdue used a 7-0 run to take a 39-29 lead in the third quarter. Trailing 43-34 with 2:42 left in the third quarter, the Terrapins went on a 13-0 run to take a 47-43 edge with 6:01 to play. Purdue ended its 9-minute-plus scoring drought with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter to cut Maryland's lead to 47-45 on a layup by Oden.
Junior Blair Watson hit one of two free throws with 21.4 seconds left. Oden was fouled on a 3-point shot and hit all three free throws to narrow the deficit to 55-52 with 19.7 seconds to go.
Jones was fouled and hit one of two free throws to push the lead to 56-52. Traylor sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one point with 6.8 seconds to go. Jones was fouled and hit both free throws with 6 seconds left.
Charles was named Big Ten Player of the Week Monday for the second time in her career and her ninth career weekly honor. Charles led the Terrapins to a come-from-behind victory over Minnesota Thursday night in College Park. She scored 12 of her 29 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-tying and game-winning buckets.
Next, the Terrapins will return home to host Illinois (10-18, 2-15) Saturday at 2 p.m. for the Terps' annual Senior Day game. Maryland will honor senior Brianna Fraser prior to Saturday's game. For tickets, click here.
Saturday's game is also Brianna Fraser bobblehead day. All fans in attendance will receive a scratch off ticket upon entry into the arena and 500 lucky fans will take home a Brianna Fraser bobblehead.
The Maryland-Illinois game will be streamed online live through BTN2Go.com and the BTN Plus app. Fans can watch with their BTN Plus subscriptions.
The Terps-Illini game is one of five women's basketball games broadcast on the Maryland Radio Network. The Terps-Illini matchup can be heard on 980 DC and 1300 in Baltimore, as well as online here.
