COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The eighth-ranked Maryland women's basketball team won its fourth Big Ten title in five years Saturday with a 71-62 win over Illinois on Senior Day at the XFINITY Center. With the win, Maryland (26-3, 15-3 B1G) is now the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament next weekend in Indianapolis.
Freshman Taylor Mikesell scored 20 points, junior Stephanie Jones had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Freshman Shakira Austin scored 13 points with 9 rebounds and 4 blocks and junior Blair Watson added 12 for the Terrapins, who have won 11 of 12.
Alex Wittinger had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (10-19, 2-16).
Seeking to go 10-0 against Illinois, the Terrapins never trailed after the game's opening 3 1/2 minutes. Maryland led 22-14 after the first quarter and boosted the margin to 10 before Courtney Joens scored eight points in a seven-minute span to make it 37-33 at halftime.
Using three field goals by Wittinger, Illinois pulled even at 39 early in the second half. Mikesell followed with a 3-pointer to launch a 12-3 spree that concluded with Watson drilling a shot from deep in the left corner and Austin converting a three-point play.
Minutes later, Watson hit a 3-pointer to give Maryland a 54-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.
After the Fighting Illini closed to 58-52, Watson hit a 3 and Austin popped a jumper in the lane to secure the win.
Mikesell has made 86 three-pointers this year and needs to make just six to top the program season record of 91 made by Kristi Toliver in 2008-09. Austin has 77 blocks this season and needs just four to top the program season record of 80 by Kris Kirchner in 1978-79.
In her 17 years at Maryland, head coach Brenda Frese has led the Terps to a record of 455-122 (.789). She owns a record of 512-152 (.771) over her 20-year coaching career. Frese has led Maryland to 14 NCAA Tournaments in her 16 post seasons, three Final Fours, six Elite Eights, eight Sweet Sixteens and 10 conference titles.
As a program, Maryland has earned a record of 998-425 (.701) and needs two wins to reach 1,000. Only 10 Division I women's basketball programs have reached 1,000 wins.
The Big Ten Tournament bracket will be released Sunday evening. As the top seed, the Terrapins will play Friday at noon at Bankers Life Field House. The Terps' matchup will be televised around the world on the Big Ten Network. For more on the Big Ten Tournament, click here.
Freshman Taylor Mikesell scored 20 points, junior Stephanie Jones had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Freshman Shakira Austin scored 13 points with 9 rebounds and 4 blocks and junior Blair Watson added 12 for the Terrapins, who have won 11 of 12.
Alex Wittinger had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (10-19, 2-16).
Seeking to go 10-0 against Illinois, the Terrapins never trailed after the game's opening 3 1/2 minutes. Maryland led 22-14 after the first quarter and boosted the margin to 10 before Courtney Joens scored eight points in a seven-minute span to make it 37-33 at halftime.
Using three field goals by Wittinger, Illinois pulled even at 39 early in the second half. Mikesell followed with a 3-pointer to launch a 12-3 spree that concluded with Watson drilling a shot from deep in the left corner and Austin converting a three-point play.
Minutes later, Watson hit a 3-pointer to give Maryland a 54-44 lead entering the fourth quarter.
After the Fighting Illini closed to 58-52, Watson hit a 3 and Austin popped a jumper in the lane to secure the win.
Mikesell has made 86 three-pointers this year and needs to make just six to top the program season record of 91 made by Kristi Toliver in 2008-09. Austin has 77 blocks this season and needs just four to top the program season record of 80 by Kris Kirchner in 1978-79.
In her 17 years at Maryland, head coach Brenda Frese has led the Terps to a record of 455-122 (.789). She owns a record of 512-152 (.771) over her 20-year coaching career. Frese has led Maryland to 14 NCAA Tournaments in her 16 post seasons, three Final Fours, six Elite Eights, eight Sweet Sixteens and 10 conference titles.
As a program, Maryland has earned a record of 998-425 (.701) and needs two wins to reach 1,000. Only 10 Division I women's basketball programs have reached 1,000 wins.
The Big Ten Tournament bracket will be released Sunday evening. As the top seed, the Terrapins will play Friday at noon at Bankers Life Field House. The Terps' matchup will be televised around the world on the Big Ten Network. For more on the Big Ten Tournament, click here.
