If you were looking for the Maryland women's basketball score this past Sunday, you probably saw a result that felt a little bit like a gut punch. The No. 8 Terrapins dropped a tough one at the XFINITY Center, falling 89-76 to No. 19 Ohio State. It was one of those games where the box score doesn't quite tell the whole story of how close things actually were until the wheels kind of fell off in the fourth quarter.
Brenda Frese’s squad had been on a tear, but Jaloni Cambridge—remember that name—just went nuclear. She put up 28 points, and a staggering 12 of those came in the final ten minutes. Honestly, it was a masterclass in closing out a game on the road. For Maryland, this wasn't just a loss; it was a reality check for a team that has been dominant on the glass all year but suddenly found themselves in a 39-39 rebounding stalemate.
The Breakdown: How 89-76 Actually Went Down
Maryland actually led by 15 points in the second quarter. You could feel the energy in College Park; it seemed like another routine blowout was brewing. But Ohio State is scrappy. They chipped away and actually cut the lead to just two points by halftime (42-40).
The real turning point?
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It happened late in the third. Maryland was up with a minute to go in the quarter. Then, the Buckeyes went on a 13-2 run sparked by a Kennedy Cambridge three-pointer. Suddenly, the Terps were chasing the game. When you're playing a team that hits 11 of 22 from beyond the arc, "chasing" usually ends in a headache.
Why the Scoring Gap Widened
It basically came down to turnovers and transition defense. Maryland turned the ball over 17 times compared to Ohio State's 11. In a high-stakes Big Ten matchup, those extra six possessions are gold. Oluchi Okananwa was a bright spot, though, pouring in 27 points and crossing the 1,000-point career milestone. It's a huge individual achievement, but you could tell she'd have traded every one of those points for a W.
Maryland's Current Standing and Stats
Despite the loss, the Terps are still sitting in a pretty decent spot. They are 16-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. If you look at the national rankings, they’re still floating around No. 12 in the AP Poll.
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- Scoring Offense: Maryland is 10th in the country, averaging 87.0 points per game.
- Rebounding Margin: They are still elite here, ranked No. 3 nationally at +14.7.
- Key Performer: Yarden Garzon is leading the Big Ten in made threes (53 so far this season).
It's weird to see a team that averages 87 points lose while scoring 76, but that just shows you how high-octane the Big Ten has become this year. The conference is a gauntlet. With UCLA, Iowa, and Michigan all playing at a high level, there are no "off" nights anymore.
Looking Ahead: The West Coast Swing
The schedule doesn't get any easier. Maryland is currently packing their bags for a brutal road trip to Los Angeles. They face No. 21 USC on Thursday, January 15, followed by a massive showdown with No. 4 UCLA on Sunday.
The USC matchup is particularly interesting because the Trojans have been a bit up and down. They are 10-6 right now, but they have Jazzy Davidson, who is basically a stat-sheet stuffer (16.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 2.6 blocks). Maryland’s interior defense, led by Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, is going to have its hands full.
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How to Follow the Next Games
If you're trying to catch the next Maryland women's basketball score live, here’s the deal:
- At USC: Thursday, Jan 15 at 9:00 PM ET. This one is streaming on Peacock.
- At UCLA: Sunday, Jan 18 at 4:00 PM ET.
- Home vs. Iowa: Thursday, Jan 22 at 6:00 PM ET.
The game against Iowa back at the XFINITY Center is already circled on everyone's calendar. Even without Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes are 14-2 and currently sit atop the Big Ten standings. That game will likely determine if Maryland can stay in the hunt for a regular-season conference title.
What This Means for Your Bracket
Honestly, don't panic. A loss to a ranked Ohio State team isn't a resume killer. The NCAA selection committee looks at "good losses" almost as much as they look at mid-major wins. Maryland’s NET ranking is still very strong because of their blowout wins earlier in the season, like that 95-38 thrashing of Hofstra in Puerto Rico.
The concern is depth. With some injuries thinning out the rotation, Brenda Frese is leaning heavily on Garzon and Okananwa. They played a lot of minutes against the Buckeyes, and you could see the fatigue late in the fourth. Freshmen like Addi Mack and Lea Bartelme are going to need to step up and provide some scoring relief if the Terps want to make a deep run in March.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the turnover margin in these next two California games. If Maryland can keep that number under 12, they'll likely come home with at least one win. You should also watch the shooting percentages for Saylor Poffenbarger; she’s been a defensive anchor, but the Terps need her 10.5 PPG to tick upward against the elite UCLA defense. Check the live box scores on the official Maryland Athletics site or ESPN+ to track these mid-game adjustments in real-time.