In a thrilling matchup of ranked teams, the No. 11 Maryland Terrapins used a dominant second quarter to come from behind and defeat the Syracuse Orange 84-73 on Wednesday night.
Kaylene Smikle, a transfer from Rutgers playing her first season with the Terrapins, led the way with a game-high 22 points as Maryland improved to a perfect 4-0 on the year. Smikle, who has now scored 20+ points in three of the Terps’ four games, was money from the free throw line, sinking all 10 of her attempts.
The Terrapins found themselves in an early hole, trailing 24-14 after Syracuse opened the second quarter with the first two baskets. However, Maryland retaliated fiercely, launching a 15-0 surge to seize control of the game.
Allie Kubek bookended the run with a pair of layups, while Shyanne Sellers, Bri McDaniel, and Christina Dalce each contributed during the surge. By the time the Orange finally scored again, the Terrapins had stormed ahead 29-24 and never looked back.
“We knew we had to dig deep and fight our way back into this one,” said Smikle. “The team really came together in that second quarter, and we were able to turn things around with our energy and effort on both ends of the floor.”
Maryland’s 28-11 advantage in the second period proved to be the difference, as the Terrapins’ balanced scoring attack and stifling defense were too much for Syracuse to overcome.
McDaniel provided a big boost off the bench, pouring in 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Dalce added 10 points. Saylor Poffenbarger nearly posted a double-double, finishing with 9 points and 9 rebounds as Maryland dominated the glass 40-32.
On the other side, Georgia Woolley led the way for the Orange with 17 points, while Kyra Wood tallied a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sophie Burrows and Dominique Camp also reached double figures for Syracuse.
However, the Terrapins’ second-quarter comeback and control made the difference. Maryland’s balanced attack and stifling defense were simply too much for the Orange to handle.
“I’m really proud of the way our team battled back tonight,” said Maryland head coach Brenda Frese. “We knew Syracuse was going to be a tough test, but our players stepped up and made the necessary plays to get the job done. Kaylene was outstanding, and it was a true team effort to secure this important win.”
The victory marks Maryland’s second over an ACC opponent this season, following their upset of No. 11 Duke last Sunday. The 4-0 start is the Terrapins’ best since the 2021-22 campaign, when they opened the year 6-0 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
As the Terrapins continue their early-season surge, the rest of the country is quickly noticing this talented and resilient squad. With Kaylene Smikle leading the way, Maryland is proving it has the firepower to compete with any team in the nation.