Lady Terps Outlast Ohio State to Win First Big Ten Game

By Anthony Brown | Dec 30, 2014

Dec 3, 2014; Fort Wayne, IN, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Lauren Mincy (1) brings the ball up court against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Women

The Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball team was able to take care of business against the Ohio State Buckeyes, getting a victory by a nine-point margin, 87-78.

To start the game, the Lady Terps made it a point to go inside and score, but Ohio State played different zone defenses, which forced them to take outside shots. Tied at 7-7 after a break in the action, both teams were committing turnovers, and rebounding was one part of the game that was going in the Lady Terps’ favor early on.

Laurin Mincey hit a three ball to cap off of a 10-4 run, leading to a 14-11 Lady Terp lead. Both teams used their defense to create offensive opportunities, and it resulted in steals that led to points in transition.

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Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who had 18 points and nine rebounds, is one of four Maryland players who average double figures in points for Maryland. According to the Washington Post, those players are: Laurin Mincey (13.5 points per game), Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (12.8 points per game), Brionna Jones (12 points per game) and Lexie Brown (11.3 points per game).

Ohio State freshman guard Kelsey Mitchell (19 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals) had a great game despite the loss, as her steal and fast-break layup cut Maryland’s lead to two, 35-33.

Inside three minutes, Ohio State tied the game at 37, but Maryland had the lead at halftime, 43-40. At the half, the Lady Terps had a small advantage in bench points, 12-6. Tierney Pfirman led the way with eight points off the bench; Lisa Blair had four points for Ohio State.

The Lady Terps played good transition basketball after the half, and as a result, Ohio State called a timeout after Brown made a layup assisted by Pfirman. Pfirman had 12 points after she drained a corner mid-range jumper that gave the Lady Terps a four point lead, 59-55. That lead increased to seven after Lexie Brown hit a corner three to give them a seven point lead 62-55.

Before you knew it, the Terps extended that run to 11 straight points after Brown made another three pointer, which made it a 68-55 score.

Ohio State tried their best to get back in the game, defense playing a big part. Two consecutive Maryland turnovers led to a Cait Craft three ball but the Lady Terps finally scored, ending a 7-0 run for the Buckeyes. When it was all said and done, the Lady Terps outlasted Ohio State to win 87-78.

Tierney Pfirman was a key sixth woman off the bench, contributing 14 points, four assists and six rebounds. I’d give her the “sixth-woman” award for her performance in this game.

Brionna Jones gets the MVP for her double-double performance of 23 points and 14 rebounds in addition to four blocks, and the “X-Factor” in this game was Shatori Walker-Kimbrough who had 18 points and nine rebounds. As the small forward of the starting five, she contributed mightily to the win.

This game was a true team effort for the Lady Terps, as it proved that they’re as good as their ranking says, and they can only improve from here. With the win, they are now third in the Big Ten conference and have another Big Ten matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Nebraska, Saturday January 3 at 4 pm. The game can be seen on CBS.

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