Maryland women's basketball faced a tough challenge at Purdue as they played their worst half of the season early on. The Boilermakers, who were considered a weaker team on paper, took a 12-point lead after the first quarter and nine at halftime. But the Terps showed remarkable resilience and corrected their mistakes in the second half, scoring 49 points to secure a 78-69 win in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Maryland Women's Basketball Overcomes Early Struggles for Road Victory

Early Struggles and a Slow Start

The game began with both teams struggling offensively. In the first five minutes alone, there were six combined turnovers. Maryland couldn't buy a bucket and Purdue capitalized late in the period, taking a 12-point lead. They were 2-of-17 from the field and 0-of-8 from three-point range with five turnovers in the first quarter. Things got worse in the early seconds of the second quarter as the Terps found themselves in a 16-point hole. A Kaylene Smikle turnover led to an easy Rashunda Jones layup, forcing coach Brenda Frese to call a timeout.

Turning the Tide in the Second Half

After the timeout, the Terps finally found an answer despite a Boilermaker 3-point barrage. They closed the lead to six points and entered halftime down by only nine. In the second half, the Terps opened with some life and cut the lead to four points. McDaniel scored 13 of her 16 points in the third quarter, carrying the Terps to the lead. She went 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. The Terps outscored Purdue by 12 points in the quarter and led by three with 10 minutes remaining. They seized the lead and took full advantage, riding a 6-0 and 8-0 run in the fourth quarter to secure a 10-point lead.

Double-Doubles from Forwards

For the first time all season, Dalce and Poffenbarger shared a spot in the starting lineup and both came away with double-doubles. Poffenbarger had an impressive showing in only her second start of the season, notching 17 points and 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Dalce carried the Terps in the first half, ending with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Coach's Perspective and Key Takeaways

Head coach Brenda Frese emphasized the importance of the halftime adjustment. "I told them in the locker room, a lot of teams when they were down 16 [points] could have folded and not had the response that they had in the remainder of the game," she said. This win was a significant milestone for Maryland as they won their first Big Ten road game after only winning three last season. It showed their growth and ability to overcome adversity.