Indiana women top MSU in Big Ten

Charles leads Maryland women over Michigan

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, Dec 29, (AP): Ali Patberg scored 23 points and No. 14 Indiana took over in the second half to open Big Ten Conference play Saturday with a 79-67 win over Michigan State.

Mackenzie Holmes added 18 points off the bench, Grace Berger scored 16 and Aleksa Gulbe had 11 for the Hoosiers (11-2), who bounced back after a home loss to No. 10 UCLA.

Taryn McCutcheon had 15 points and reached the 1,000-point plateau for the Spartans (7-5), who dropped their third straight. They were ranked until losing two at the Florida Sunshine Classic last weekend. Victoria Gaines and Nia Clouden added 12 apiece.

Indiana got off to a horrible start in the second quarter as a one-point deficit ballooned to 12 with the Spartans hitting three 3-pointers in 15-4 run.

The Hoosiers were 10-of-14 shooting in the third quarter, closing on a 11-2 run to take a 54-49 lead. They made 7 of 9 shots in the fourth quarter, plus 11 of 16 free throws. Holmes finished 7 of 8 from the field, Patberg 7 of 9 and Gulbe 5 of 7.

Maryland 70, Michigan 55

BASKETBALL

Kaila Charles had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 12 Maryland beat No. 23 Michigan 70-55 in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Saturday night.

Charles moved into ninth place on Maryland’s all-time scoring list, passing Christy Winters Scott (1987-90, 1,679 points) and finishing the game at 1,685 career points.

The Terrapins (10-2) led from late in the first quarter until the Wolverines (93) tied it at 34 on Kayla Robbins’ pair of free throws with 4:58 left in the third. Maryland responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good and steadily pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Taylor Mikesell’s 3-pointer with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter was the first 3 of the game by either team, each having missed its first nine attempts from the arc up to that point. Blair Watson followed Mikesell’s 3 with another, making it 6148 with 3:41 left.

Shakira Austin, Ashley Owusu and Stephanie Jones added 10 points each for Maryland.

Amy Dilk led Michigan with 18