Maryland Terrapins Secure Victory Against Northwestern
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — In a commanding performance, the No. 14 Maryland Terrapins secured a decisive 79-57 victory against Northwestern, with star player Oluchi Okananwa leading the charge. Okananwa not only tallied 25 points during the game, but in doing so, she also crossed the significant milestone of 1,200 career points, bringing her total to 1,213. This achievement comes as she continues to be a standout player in the conference, averaging 17.4 points per game and having scored 51 points across her last two outings.
Game Highlights
The game had its tense moments, particularly in the third quarter when Northwestern narrowed the gap to just eight points. Nonetheless, Okananwa, along with teammate Kyndal Walker, responded with a flurry of scoring that triggered a 12-2 run, allowing Maryland to extend their lead to 63-45 by the end of the quarter. They would go on to maintain a comfortable margin, with the lead growing as large as 24 points in the final period.
Defensive Strategy
Maryland’s fly-to-the-ball defense was key, as they capitalized on Northwestern’s 21 turnovers, converting those mistakes into 24 points on the scoreboard. Conversely, the Terrapins showcased impressive discipline with only six turnovers throughout the match, of which Northwestern managed to score just two points.
Notable Contributions
Other notable contributions for Maryland included Yarden Garzon with 11 points, Addi Mack adding 10, and Saylor Poffenbarger achieving a career milestone with her 1,000th rebound while also totaling 13 boards. Walker added 10 points off the bench to round out a balanced scoring effort. For Northwestern, Grace Sullivan shone as the leading scorer with 23 points, although the team faced challenges, falling to a record of 8-20 and just 2-15 in conference play.
Historical Context and Upcoming Matches
Historically, Maryland has dominated its recent matchups with Northwestern, maintaining a strong lead in their head-to-head record at 16-1, including their current eight-game winning streak against them. Looking ahead, the Terrapins will prepare for a challenging game against No. 8 Michigan on Saturday for their regular-season finale, while Northwestern will host Purdue at home for their season’s conclusion on Sunday.
