Terps topple Spartans
Jones scores 32, Slocum adds 18 in Maryland’s 100-89 tourney victory
INDIANAPOLIS — Center Brionna Jones was her regular steady presence for fourth-ranked Maryland during the Big Ten tournament semifinals Saturday night. Then freshman point guard Destiny Slocum put on a shooting exhibition down the stretch.
That inside-outside combination secured the No. 2 seed Terps a berth in the championship game after a 100-89 win against No. 6 seed Michigan State at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Standing the way of Maryland’s third consecutive Big Ten tournament title is No. 5 seed Purdue, which upset top-seeded Ohio State, 71-60, in the other semifinal.
“Obviously we needed all of the 100 points we got tonight,” coach Brenda Frese said after Maryland set a tournament record for points in a game. “I thought we were really able to kind of find different runs, who to be able to get the ball to, whether it was Shatori [Walker-Kimbrough], Bri or Destiny late in the second half.”
Jones finished with 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists, all game highs, with three steals in contributing to Maryland’s 10th win against the Spartans in as many games in series history. Slocum, meanwhile, had 18 points, including eight straight over 75 seconds in the final minutes that pushed Maryland’s lead to 94-77 with 2:20 left in regulation.
Freshman guard Kaila Charles added 18 points, six rebounds and a game-high five steals for her third straight game in double figures.
“I actually forgot they were freshmen,” Walker-Kimbrough (22 points) said of Slocum and Charles. “They do not play like it all. They make us go, and I’m blessed to have them as teammates.”
The Terps held a 71-60 lead at the end of the third quarter capped by Slocum’s 3-pointer with three seconds to go. Michigan State moments earlier had drawn within 66-60 on Branndais Agee’s 3-pointer, her third of the quarter. The Spartans (21-11) made six 3-pointers during the third quarter to stay within reach and 12 of 29 for the game.
A pair of layups from Jones opened a 53-48 lead for the Terps early in the third quarter, but Michigan State got Agee’s 3-pointer to trigger an 11-2 flurry. Agee hit another 3-pointer after Jones made a layup for Maryland, and the Spartans were within 55-49 on Jenna Allen's jumper and Tori Jankoska’s 3-pointer, prompting a timeout from Frese with 5:41 to play.
Maryland made consecutive layups out of the stoppage, and another Jones layup yielded a 61-52 lead with 3:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Jones made 12 of 14 shots overall and went 8-for-9 from the foul line.
“They’re really a physical team, and I kind of embrace physical play,” Jones said. “I think that just gave me a little extra energy today.”
The late stages of the second quarter featured Maryland forging its first double-digit lead after the Spartans drew within 33-30 on two free throws by Taryn McCutcheon. Walker-Kimbrough soon after scored on a layup off an assist from Sarah Myers.
The reserve freshman point guard quickly logged another assist, this time passing to Jones for a layup.
Walker-Kimbrough made a long jumper to extend to the lead to 39-30, and the Terps closed the half with six consecutive points for a 47-34 lead at halftime.
The first run of the game belonged to Maryland, which scored 10 in a row late in the first quarter beginning with Slocum’s 3-pointer.
Jones then blocked a 3-point attempt by McCutcheon, collected the loose ball and passed to WalkerKimbrough, who scored on an uncontested layup.
Walker-Kimbrough’s 3-pointer provided Maryland with an 18-10 lead, but the Spartans rallied behind layups from Allen and Taya Reimer and Victoria Gaines’s 3-pointer. Maryland led at end of the first quarter, 20-17, when freshman center Brianna Fraser gathered an offensive rebound and scored on the putback with one second to go.
“We know how to come back from tough situations,” Slocum said. “That’s what good about us, is we’re going to stay together through it, and I think that gets us really far.” MICHIGAN STATE (21-11) Gaines 3-4 0-0 7, Reimer 6-9 2-2 14, Agee 10-15 0-0 24, Jankoska 10-22 4-4 31, McCutcheon 0-4 2-2 2, Cook 0-0 0-0 0, Hollie 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 0-1 1-2 1, Allen 5-7 0-0 10, Gussert 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 34-64 9-10 89. MARYLAND (29-2) Jones 12-14 8-9 32, Charles 7-12 4-5 18, Confroy 1-3 0-0 3, Slocum 6-10 1-4 18, Walker-Kimbrough 8-19 4-6 22, Fraser 2-3 0-0 4, Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Myers 0-0 0-0 0, Small 0-0 0-0 0, Watson 0-0 1-2 1, Totals 37-62 18-26 100. Halftime: Maryland, 47-34. 3-point goals—Michigan St. 12-29 (Gaines 1-2, Agee 4-6, Jankoska 7-16, McCutcheon 0-4, Gussert 0-1), Maryland 8-14 (Confroy 1-2, Slocum 5-8, Walker-Kimbrough 2-4). Assists—Michigan St. 23 (Gaines 8), Maryland 19 (Jones 6). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Michigan St. 27 (Jankoska 5), Maryland 34 (Jones 9). Total fouls—Michigan St. 20, Maryland 11. A—5,408.