STANFORD, CA – No. 10 seed Maryland women's basketball lost a heartbreaker to No. 7 seed Iowa State, 93-86, in the NCAA Tournament first round at Maples Pavilion on Friday.
Maryland (19-14) led by as many as 20 points before halftime, but Iowa State (21-11) rallied to outscore the Terps 30-14 in the third quarter to tie the game at 66. The Cyclones shot 67.9 percent from the floor in the second half as Audi Crooks scored 22 of her career-high and game-high 40 points in the final 20 minutes. Crooks was 18-of-20 from the floor along with corralling 12 rebounds.
Allie Kubek's career-high 29 points off the bench in her first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance wasn't enough. The junior finished the game making a career-high 7-of-8 three-pointers and 10-of-12 overall from the floor. Her total of seven threes set the Maryland record for most three-pointers made in a single NCAA Tournament game.
Shyanne Sellers had an all-around game with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Faith Masonius added 14 points and three boards.
The Terps led 33-20 at the end of the first quarter. The 33 points scored set the record for most points ever in a quarter of an NCAA Tournament game. The Terps broke the previous mark of 30 points set by Alabama on March 24, 2021. The output also matched the Terps' season high for points in a quarter set on Nov. 29, 2023 against Niagara.
The Terrapins boasted a 52-36 lead at halftime and scored the sixth-most points ever in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game. It was the most since Alabama scored 54 in 2021.
Breaking Down The Action
Maryland (19-14) led by as many as 20 points before halftime, but Iowa State (21-11) rallied to outscore the Terps 30-14 in the third quarter to tie the game at 66. The Cyclones shot 67.9 percent from the floor in the second half as Audi Crooks scored 22 of her career-high and game-high 40 points in the final 20 minutes. Crooks was 18-of-20 from the floor along with corralling 12 rebounds.
Allie Kubek's career-high 29 points off the bench in her first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance wasn't enough. The junior finished the game making a career-high 7-of-8 three-pointers and 10-of-12 overall from the floor. Her total of seven threes set the Maryland record for most three-pointers made in a single NCAA Tournament game.
Shyanne Sellers had an all-around game with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Faith Masonius added 14 points and three boards.
The Terps led 33-20 at the end of the first quarter. The 33 points scored set the record for most points ever in a quarter of an NCAA Tournament game. The Terps broke the previous mark of 30 points set by Alabama on March 24, 2021. The output also matched the Terps' season high for points in a quarter set on Nov. 29, 2023 against Niagara.
The Terrapins boasted a 52-36 lead at halftime and scored the sixth-most points ever in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game. It was the most since Alabama scored 54 in 2021.
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland got off to a hot start from the field and led 20-12 at the first media timeout. Allie Kubek, Shyanne Sellers and Bri McDaniel each drilled three-pointers and shot a combined 4-for-5. Kubek knocked down two threes.
- At the end of the first quarter, the Terps had already led 33-20. Kubek had a game-high nine points off a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arch. Faith Masonius added eight points. They were firing on all cylinders and shooting over 70 percent.
- The Terps remained ahead by double-digits at the second quarter media timeout. They led 41-29 and Kubek remained perfect from the floor. She was 5-of-5 overall.
- The Terrapins led 52-36 at halftime and Kubek led all scorers with 19 points. The 52 points scored were the sixth-most points ever scored in a half of an NCAA Tournament game.
- Iowa State sparked a 13-5 run to begin the third quarter and cut the lead to single digits. It knocked down three three-pointers in the first two minutes but trailed 57-49.
- Iowa State tied the game at 66-66 at the end of the third quarter. The Cyclones outscored the Terps 30-14 in the quarter and Audi Crooks led all scorers with 29 points.
- The Cyclones took a six-point lead after Crooks connected a layup, but Jakia Brown-Turner converted an and-one and made the free-throw to cut the lead to 78-75 with five minutes remaining.
- The Terps trailed 85-82 with 2:51 left in the game. Kubek drilled a three-pointer to close the gap.
- Maryland was unable to finish the job. Iowa State made four free-throws in the final minute to hold on.
- Allie Kubek scored in double-figures for the 15th time this season with a career-high 29 points. She scored 10-plus points in 48 career games with 33 coming at Towson before transferring to Maryland.
- Shyanne Sellers scored 19 points and has scored double-figures in 26 of 32 games she has played this season. It was the 67th in her career scoring in double-figures.
- Faith Masonius recorded 14 points for her seventh double-figure game this season and 28th in her career as a Terp.
- Maryland has four 1,000-point scorers on its roster. (Brown-Turner - 1,706; Alexander - 1,459; Briggs - 1,396; Sellers - 1,231).
- With two three-pointers in the game, Alexander has made 149 in her two years as a Terrapin which is No. 11 in program history.
- Sellers moved up to and claimed the No. 31 spot on Maryland's all-time scoring list. She scored 15 points in the game to give her 1,227 in her career. She passed Bonnie Rimkus (1991-94).
- Sellers also sits at No. 15 with 396 career assists after dishing out six today.
- This is Maryland's 31st NCAA Tournament appearance and 14th straight under head coach Brenda Frese (dating back to 2011). Frese has led the Terrapins to 20 NCAA Tournament bids in her 22 years (the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled after Maryland clinched a bid).
- Maryland is 53-30 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 41-18 under Frese.
- Frese is 42-19 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including her season at Minnesota.
- Frese has led the Terrapins to 11 Sweet Sixteens, seven Elite Eights, three Final Fours and the 2006 NCAA Championship. Last year the Terps made the Elite Eight.
- The Terps now hold a 21-5 record in the first round of the tournament, including an 18-1 mark under Frese.
- This was the first-ever matchup between Maryland and Iowa State.
- Head coach Brenda Frese was an assistant coach at Iowa State under Bill Fennelly from 1995-99 and helped the Cyclones to three NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1999 Elite Eight.
- Frese's sister, Stacy, played at Iowa State (1997-00) and earned AP Second Team All-America honors.
- 1: This was the first-ever matchup between Maryland and Iowa State
- 7: Allie Kubek knocked down a career-high seven three-pointers, which set a Maryland program record for an NCAA Tournament game.
- 9: Maryland made nine three-pointers in the first half, their most in a half in an NCAA Tournament game since at least 2014.
- 11: The Terps made 11 three-pointers, one shy of the school record for most triples in a game.
- 14: Maryland has made 14 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
- 31: This is Maryland's 31st NCAA Tournament appearance.
- 33: Maryland's 33 points scored in the first quarter set the NCAA Tournament record for most points in a quarter.
- 52: Maryland's 52 points at halftime was the sixth most points scored in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game and the most since 2021.
