No. 7 Maryland dominates Iowa to win Big Ten crown
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Seventh-ranked Maryland's scoring depth and impressive skill were once again on display in a 104-84 rout of Iowa to claim a second consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship on Saturday.
How impressive? Coach Brenda Frese suggests these Terrapins (24-2) have more offensive potency and depth than her 2006 national championship squad.
“I love where this team is at right now,” Frese said. “I wouldn't want to play us.”
There's a reason Maryland has reached the Big Ten title game in each of the seven seasons since joining the conference, and won six of seven regular-season titles. The nation's No. 1 offense, which entered this week averaging 93.1 points, comes at an opponent fast and is relentless.
“We just play hard as soon as we step on the court and it becomes fun,” said Most Outstanding Player Diamond Miller, who scored 15 points and had six assists. “We're always smiling.”
The Terps have won 13 in a row, all by double digits, to earn consideration for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Chloe Bibby led the Terps with 21 points, including 11 with three 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Seven of eight players who scored early had more than one basket. Each half started with top-seeded Maryland hitting a 3-pointer on the opening possession.
“I thought they were just dialed in from start to finish,” Frese said.
Then there were moments when the talent was undeniably unique. Late in the first half, Angel Reese threw a no-look, wrap-around pass inside to Faith Masonius, who finished with a reverse layup. And both of those players come off the bench.
“Our teammates have proven they are scorers just like us,” Miller said.
About that balance, in addition to Bibby, Mimi Collins had 17 points and six rebounds, Katie Benzan 14 points and six assists, and Ashley Owusu 12 points and seven assists.
Maryland's unselfish ballhandlers had a 29-19 advantage in assists. Maryland's bench outscored Iowa's 23-9. And the Terrapins produced more in the paint, 46-30.
Iowa (18-9) has two special players in All-Big Ten standouts Monika Czinano and Freshman of the Year Caitlin Clark, who had 22 and 21 points, respectively.
“I'm really, really proud of our team,” Czinano said. “I don't think very many people ever thought we'd make it to a championship game.”
The fifth-seeded underdogs had to win three games in as many days to play for a fourth consecutive day against one of the best teams in the country.
“I'm not disappointed with the effort this weekend,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “(Maryland is) such an offensive juggernaut.”
The Hawkeyes shot 53% from the field, but couldn't stop Maryland's offense, whether it was trying to defend strong drives to the rim, getting back in transition, or not extending enough on the perimeter to prevent 3-pointers. The Terps seemingly did whatever they wanted.
Maryland led 29-18 after the first quarter and 55-37 at halftime. Iowa never narrowed the gap to single digits. Maryland led 79-57 after three quarters.
“I know we're really excited about what lies ahead,” Frese said.
“I could really see them get to the Final Four,” Bluder said of the Terrapins.
Four of the five players voted by media to the all-tournament team played in the finale. Miller received the Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player award. She was joined on the team by 2020 MOP Owusu, Czinano, and Clark. Michigan State's Nia Clouden, who scored 30 points in a quarterfinal upset of ninth-ranked Indiana, was the other selection.
NO. 6 BAYLOR 66, TEXAS 55
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — NaLyssa Smith had 21 points and 14 rebounds, Queen Egbo added 10 points and 18 rebounds, and No. 6 Baylor held off Texas 66-55 in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals on Saturday.
After trailing by 14 in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns (18-9) got within five but couldn't get any closer after Smith drilled a 3-pointer in the closing minute.
“We were much better down the stretch than we were last time we played them,” Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. “We did enough things to keep it away from where they thought they could win.”
Moon Ursin scored 19 and Dijonai Harrington had 14 as Baylor (24-2) will play in its ninth straight Big 12 Tournament final on Sunday against either Oklahoma State or West Virginia.
“Today I was just knocking down shots, but our bigs did a great job with screens,” Ursin said. “I was just confident in my shot.”
Joanne Allen-Taylor led the Longhorns with 22 points and Celeste Taylor had 18.
The Lady Bears were too much in the paint for Texas, outrebounding the Longhorns 51-29, 22 on the offensive glass. Baylor also scored 36 in the paint and had 28 second-chance points.
“Rebounding and defending will win you a lot of games, along with second-chance points,” Mulkey said. “They are physical and there were spurts we didn't execute very well.”
Texas center Charli Collier, a projected top pick in this year's WNBA draft, played just two minutes in the first quarter after being called for two early fouls. She averaged over 20 points per game this season but averaged fewer than six in three games against Baylor.
“I think it's a combination of things, but you have to give Baylor credit,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “Smith is so energetic and plays really hard. I think they get up for it and pay a lot of attention to her.”