Maryland Terrapins at Michigan State Spartans

No. 5 Maryland rallies to survive Michigan State scare

Brionna Jones scored 17 points, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Laurin Mincy had 15, and the nation's No. 5 team escaped with a 75-69 win Monday night.

Lexie Brown had 14 points and Tierney Pfirman added 11 for the balanced Terrapins (23-2, 14-0 Big Ten).

"It wasn't one of our better performances," Frese said of Maryland's 17th win in a row, dating back to Dec. 3. "But I was pleased with the way we were able to hang in there and get a very difficult road win. All the credit goes to Michigan State. Aerial Powers is really a phenomenal player."

Powers scored 18 points for the Spartans (12-14, 4-11) but was 8-for-21 from the field and missed six of seven free throws. Tori Jankoska and Becca Mills each had 14 points, and Cara Miller had 10.

Michigan State led by a point with less than 10 minutes left but couldn't make enough shots down the stretch to turn a scare into a shocker.

"I thought we had them on the run most of the game," Spartans coach Suzy Merchant said. "Even down seven at the half, I liked what we were doing. It's stating the obvious, but the free throw line killed us."

Maryland shot 46 percent from the field to Michigan State's 40 percent and had a 46-32 rebounding advantage. But if the Spartans had converted more than seven free throws in 18 attempts or made a third of their open looks, the Terrapins might have had a loss instead of their second-closest win this season.

Lexi Gussert tied the game at 42 with a 3-pointer, and Mills put the Spartans up 44-42 with a layup a minute later. Maryland answered with a jumper by Walker-Kimbrough as the shot clock expired and a free throw by Jones. After Powers connected inside, Pfirman gave made it a three-point lead with two baskets.

Trailing 49-46, Michigan State answered with a corner 3 from Miller. And a flagrant elbow by Walker-Kimbrough allowed Jankoska to put the Spartans up 50-49 with a free throw. It was the last time they led.

Brown, Jones and Walker-Kimbrough took over from there with eight straight points. After a layup by Miller, Walker-Kimbrough's three-point play gave the Terrapins a 60-52 cushion. A basket by Pfirman and a free throw by Jones made it an 11-point game.

"I just wanted us to keep our poise and composure," Frese said. "We knew Michigan State would play extremely hard. And a win like that will help us in the postseason. And (winning) in a tough environment only makes you better."

TIP-INS

Maryland: The Terrapins, No. 4 in the nation in field goal percentage and No. 5 in scoring, came up short of their season averages. They won with a 28-15 edge on the defensive board and by shooting 30 percent better at the foul line, making up for 18 turnovers.

Michigan State: Powers came into the game with 19 double-doubles, second-most in the nation, and had 12 in her previous 15 games. But she managed just six rebounds and only two at the defensive end. That was a major reason the Spartans grabbed just 15 of the Terrapins' 33 missed shots.

UP NEXT

Maryland visits Wisconsin on Thursday night.

Michigan State hosts Rutgers on Sunday afternoon.

How can I watch Terrapins vs. Spartans?

• TV Channel: Terrapins vs Spartans 2021 College Basketball, week 15, is broadcasted on ESPN2.
• Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Location: East Lansing, MI
Attendance: 5,562 | Capacity: