Taylor Mikesell scored 22 points on 6-for-8 shooting from 3-point range to lead the seventh-ranked Maryland women’s basketball team’s romp past host Minnesota, 99-44, on Sunday afternoon as the Terps forged a tie for the Big Ten title and finished the regular season on a 14-game winning streak.
Ashley Owusu had 17 points, Kaila Charles added 15 points and Stephanie Jones and Shakira Austin each pitched in 13 points for the Terps (25-4, 16-2), who shared first place with Northwestern and recorded their fifth regular-season conference championship in just six years in the league. The Terps won the tiebreaker with the Wildcats and will have the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament next weekend.
Sara Scalia scored 10 points for the Gophers (15-14, 5-13), who lost their sixth straight game and suffered their most lopsided loss in two seasons under coach Lindsay Whalen. Taiye Bello, one of four seniors playing in their final home game, had seven points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota.
Northwestern's first conference title share in three decades — since finishing as co-champs with Iowa in 1989-90 — became the story of the winter in Big Ten women's basketball. Maryland's dominance down the stretch wasn't much of a plot twist, but this was one of the best productions in coach Brenda Frese's 18 seasons.
The Terps last lost on Jan. 9 at third-place Iowa. Since then, the only opponents to come closer than 18 points were Northwestern (70-61) and Indiana (76-62 and 79-69). The average margin of victory in Maryland’s last six games was 37.8 points.
The Terps, who are the fifth-highest scoring team in the country, had a 54-16 advantage in points in the paint, drawing three-point plays at will.
Maryland’s defense might be even more dangerous. The Terps posted 24 steals and forced 35 turnovers. Gophers freshman point guard Jasmine Powell, who had four 20-plus-point games in February, finished with six points on 2-for-10 shooting and had 10 turnovers. After making their first three shots, the Gophers went 12-for-51 from the floor over the rest of the game.
BIG PICTURE
Maryland: Frese, who spent one season at Minnesota in 2001-02 when Whalen was a sophomore on the team, steered the Terps to the 2006 national title and took them back to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015. This team is well-stocked and well-poised for another deep run.
Minnesota: Whalen and her staff have a long way to go to get the Gophers back in contention for NCAA tournament bids and Big Ten titles. Their midseason setback of losing leading scorer Destiny Pitts, who announced Jan. 16 she was transferring after being suspended in a dispute with Whalen and the staff over about attitude, was too much to overcome. They went 4-13 after Dec. 28.
UP NEXT
Maryland: Gets a double bye into the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. The Terps play on Friday afternoon in Indianapolis against the No. 8 seed Michigan State-No. 9 seed Purdue winner.
Minnesota: Has the No. 11 seed for the Big Ten tournament, meaning a first-round matchup against last-place Penn State on Wednesday afternoon. With a win, the Gophers would play No. 6 seed Ohio State on Thursday night.
Lehigh 82, Loyola Maryland 64: Paige Galiani scored 18 points and the host Mountain Hawks (17-11, 9-8 Patriot League) hit 14 of their 32 attempts from 3-point range to cruise past the Greyhounds (8-20, 5-12).
Delaney Connolly recorded her first college double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for Loyola. Laryn Edwards had 11 points and Stephanie Karcz and Hannah Niles each added 10 for the Greyhounds, who play at Holy Cross on Wednesday.
Drexel 63, Towson 60: Keishana Washington drove past two Tigers defenders and banked in a layup with 12 seconds remaining to propel league co-leader Drexel (21-7, 14-2 Colonial Athletic Association) to a win at SECU Arena in Towson.
The Tigers (14-13, 9-7) got 17 points and four rebounds from Nukiya Mayo and 17 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals from Kionna Jeter. Towson plays at William & Mary on Thursday.
Men
Towson 75, Northeastern 72: Brian Fobbs and Jason Gibson scored 18 points apiece and Towson held off Northeastern in a regular-season finale.
Towson (19-12, 12-6 CAA) earned the No. 3 seed into the conference tournament and will square off with sixth-seeded Northeastern (15-15, 9-9) in the quarterfinals on March 8.
Jordan Roland scored 25 points, leading four Northeastern players into double figures in a game that had 11 ties and 10 lead changes.
Towson outscored Northeastern 17-9 in the final six minutes and Gibson broke a tie at 67 with his fifth and final 3-pointer with 2:24 remaining as Towson led the rest of the way.
Baltimore Sun staff contributed to this article.