Maryland completed a 17-point comeback to win a 111-108 cross-double thriller over Alabama, which was reached for the fourth time in five years. It is the second largest comeback of the terrapins in the history of the NCAA tournament, which in 2012 only has an 18-point comeback against Texas A&M.
“This was a heavyweight struggle,” said Maryland coach Brenda Frese. “No team deserves to lose this game tonight.”
This is the only Matchup in the second round of this tournament, in which the seed No. 4 from Home Court exploited and defeated the seed No. 5. There has never been a sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament without at least one seed No. 4.
“I tried to convey as much energy, positivity and self -confidence as possible,” said Frese. “Overtime is our time. I knew they were tired, but (I said) they have to dig further.”
There was not a specific piece that the TUPS say that they heated up their comeback when they turned their 17-point half-time deficit into a nine points into the fourth quarter. Rather, it was a break.
“I remember that we talked about score stop score,” said Shyanne Sellers, who ended with a team high of 28 points. “Just get within 10th and before we knew it was right there.”
This message remained the same as they navigated in the last route of the fourth quarter and in both overtime. Sarah Te-Biasu scored eight of her 26 points in the second extension.
“I really wanted to win,” said Te-Biasu. “I just tried to play the best in every possession.
In each of the last three periods there was chaotic basketball sections full of sales and fouls. At the end of the fourth quarter there was also an epic shot, first by Sarah Ashlee Barker for the Crimson Tide and then by Te-Biasu for the Terps. Karly Weathers had the chance to reach a 3 pointer for Alabama, but her Miss sent the game into extra time.
At the end of the first overtime, the TERPS did the only thing they shouldn’t have done: a 3-point shooter with one second. But that happened, and Barker went with the chance to send the game into the extension.
“I said, ‘Pray for me’,” said Barker, who made all three free throws.
Barker ended the program with a program with 45 points on 17-von-25 shootings and took on a large load during overtime when Alabama Zaay Green and Aaliyah Nye lost, both of which are being taken out late in the fourth quarter.
“I wish I could have done more,” said Barker. “Just the opportunity to be here, the opportunity to play for Alabama, to represent Alabama, yes, 45 points are a lot, but I would rather have won 45 points, but at the end of the day it is not my glory.”
The sellers met two of their own free throws – and probably their two biggest points of the season – to score Maryland three seconds in the second extension.
“I just wanted to put them down. I didn’t want to give them hope,” said Sellers. “I wanted to make them meet a 3 if they wanted to send them to another overtime.”
Alabama got an excellent look, but was unable to fall the 3 pointer. The Crimson Tide got another chance, but Maryland broke off the Inbound’s pass and secured victory and ended this marathon of a game.
The 219 combined points of Maryland and Alabama are the second most common points in tournament history, which in 1995 only left 241 points in a game with four overtime hours.
“This game was really fun,” said Te-Biasu. “It was a blessing to be part of it.”
“They dream of these moments,” added Barker. “You live for these moments. It didn’t go on our way, but I’ll go out … with a head. That was an amazing basketball game.”
Maryland’s reward for his epic victory is a Matchup with top seed and defending champion South Carolina in Sweet 16. It is a retirement of an elite-night game two years ago that the GameCocks 86-75 won.
