. . World News – USA – No.. 19 IU women’s basketball loses hard-fought fight 84-80 against No.. 12 Maryland

Senior Guard Ali Patberg shoots the ball Jan. . 4 at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. The no. 19 Hoosiers lost to No.. 12 Maryland Terrapins 80-84.

IU women’s basketball left the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland just four points from beating No.. 12 Maryland in an 84-80 loss Monday night.

The Terrapins quickly took control of the game and led 10-0 within the first two minutes of the first quarter. Senior guard Ali Patberg put the Hoosiers on the scoreboard after three minutes of play by drawing a 1-1 and sinking their free throw. Maryland came out aggressively at both ends of the court, scoring 50% of their 3-point points, pressing on half-court defense, doubling the ball and forcing IU turnovers.

The Hoosiers struggled to find their booth in the first quarter, shooting 24% off the field, compared to the Terps’ 67%. . Maryland led 23-9 after the fourth.

“We knew we would weather a storm,” said IU head coach Teri Moren, “but we didn’t expect the storm to come right after the jump. ”

Junior Guard Grace Berger and Junior Forward Aleksa Gulbe seemed to find a rhythm to get IU back on track, but ultimately failed to close Maryland’s lead. Gulbe answered two of Maryland’s 3-pointers with two of her own back-to-back possessions, with less than four minutes left in half. Berger had a series of four field goals and led IU with 10 points at halftime.

« We started doing what we do, » said Berger. “We know we’re a great team that can beat anyone, but it’s difficult when you lose 10-0 in the beginning. You can’t do that. ”

Although the Hoosiers hadn’t given the Terps a run for their money, IU started the second half with the same vigor with which Maryland started the game. IU took a 12-2 lead within the first three minutes of the third quarter and reduced Maryland’s lead to two points after Berger hit a jumper.

The Hoosiers’ fight, however, couldn’t stop Maryland’s second security guard Ashley Owusu, who scored six points in the final four minutes of the quarter.

Owusu made a last-minute jumper that injured senior guard Jaelynn Penn’s ankle. Penn was taken from his seat and led into the locker room on crutches.

« We thought we’d protect better, » said Moren. “In terms of our preparation and watching who they were playing against, we thought we could try better to take Owusu away. ”

After losing Penn, Berger kept the IU afloat by scoring 6-7 field goals in the heart of the last quarter. Junior guard Nicole Cardaño-Hillary accompanied Berger’s run with her own 4-5 run after she sank a 3-pointer four minutes before the end of the game. Shortly thereafter, Cardaño-Hillary was also taken out of the game with an injury after bending an elbow in her face.

Patberg finished the scoring for IU with a 3-hand that had five seconds left on the clock and brought the score to 80-83.

Berger was fouled out of the game after reaching a career with 26 points. Berger also led the team with seven assists and two steals.

In the end, the Hoosiers struggled to stay in it, but the Terps’ offense was unsurpassed. Maryland finished the game 44% from deep and 53% out of the field, compared with 24% from the 3-point line and 45% out of the field.

« You won’t go quietly, » Moren said of her team’s efforts. “You will always fight. That’s why I love her so much. ”

Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball, Maryland, Big Ten Conference, Maryland Terrapins Men’s Basketball, Basketball, University of Maryland