After defeating Green Bay 81-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Alabama women’s basketball will now turn its attention to Maryland.
It will be a rematch of the Round of 32 matchup back in 2021, when the Terrapins handled the Crimson Tide 100-64.
Maryland comes into this matchup 24-7 on the season and 13-5 in conference play. The group is coached by Brenda Frese, who is in her 23rd season and is the all-time wins leader for the program. Frese was the 2021 AP coach of the year.
This is the Terrapins’ 15th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and their 16th time being named a top-4 seed, which means they will host the first two rounds. The group just came off an 82-69 victory over Norfolk State.
Guards Shyanne Sellers and Kaylen Smikle lead the way for Maryland, and both were named to the All-Big Ten first team. Sellers averaged 17.1 points per game in conference play with a remarkably high 50% 3-point percentage, while Smikle averaged 17.9 points per game on 42.7% from the field.
The Terrapins’ backcourt play is a big strength. The top five leading scorers for the team during conference play were all guards, and all averaged at least 10 points per game. Maryland’s backcourt played a big role in the overall squad averaging 78.1 points per game, which is second best in the conference.
Success at the stripe has elevated the Terrapins offensively this season. The team leads the Big Ten and is No. 2 in the country in free throws made per game (17.16) and seventh nationally in free throw attempts (22.45).
The offense isn’t the only strength Maryland has, however, as the Terrapins are currently No. 10 in the country and No. 2 in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (+8.6). Guard Saylor Poffenbarger is 12th in the Big Ten in rebounding with 7.7 per game, and forward Christina Dalce is right behind her at 13th with 7.6. Dalce is also fourth in the Big Ten in offensive boards per game at 3.7.
Though Maryland’s offense is a strong point, the same can’t be said for its defense. The unit ranked 12th in the conference in points allowed per game and has had problems completely disappearing on that side of the ball at times, like when it allowed Michigan to shoot 61% from the field in the Terrapins’ 98-71 loss in the first round of the conference tournament.
The most significant stat that could give Alabama fans hope for this game is the 19.9 3-point attempts Maryland allows per game, as the team is ranked bottom-five in the Big Ten in the stat. Though the Terrapins ranked middle-of-the-pack in 3-point percentage allowed at 34.5%, they will be facing a Crimson Tide offense that was the only team in the country to shoot over 40% from 3 in conference play at 40.2%.
The Crimson Tide’s biggest challenge will be on the defensive end, most notably guarding Sellers and Smikle. Guards Karly Weathers and Diana Collins may play crucial roles in this game.
Weathers and Collins have succeeded in stifling leading scorers before. Arkansas leading scorer Izzy Higgenbottom had 24.4 points per game but put up a season-low 5 against the Crimson Tide, with the two guards taking turns guarding her. It also happened with LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson, who had 19 points per game but only scored a season low 6 against Alabama, her only game with single-digit points.
Whether Alabama’s 3-point shooting or Maryland’s guard depth will tell the story of the game remains to be seen until the two teams face off on Monday at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN.
