#10 ranked Indiana University’s Women’s Basketball team topped #14 University of Maryland for the first time ever when the teams met earlier this season in Bloomington. That 70-63 overtime win helped then #6 Indiana secure its place near the top of the Big 10. Both teams entered Friday’s game with a losing streak with Maryland winning 8 in a row before its loss at #9 Michigan on Sunday, and Indiana on a 2-game losing streak. Even though they only outscored Indiana in the first quarter of the game, Maryland seemed to be in command and responded with a score or defensive heroics every time Indiana moved closer. But Maryland’s 7th turnover in the 4th quarter added more drama when they failed to advance the ball out of the backcourt before the clock expired, giving Indiana the chance to get closer. Though she had missed all of her previous shots, graduate point guard Nicole Cardano-Hillary stepped back to hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to pull Indiana within one at 65-64 with 35 seconds to go. Then, Maryland graduate point guard Katie Benzan drove and scored on a floater with 11.8 seconds left. Maryland stepped up with defense to close the game as sophomore power forward Angel Reese pressured Cardano-Hillary into a missed shot on a 3-point attempt as time expired. Maryland’s win secured a top 4 conference finish, guaranteeing a double bye for the conference tournament. Indiana finishes 5th and will start tournament play a day earlier.
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