Brandon Walker for Urban Media Today
College Park, Maryland— Sofia Bell made three clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter as Oregon defeated No. 16 Maryland 68-61 on Saturday evening at the XFINITY Center. Oregon secured its third straight victory while Maryland has dropped its fourth consecutive game.
Oluchi Okinawa started off the games scoring for Maryland (17-6, 5-6 Big Ten) with three driving layups. Oregon (17-7, 5-6 Big Ten) answered back with a three-pointer by Mia Jacobs. The game went into a defensive stalemate until Jacobs made a three-point play, and Maryland led 10-9 at the first media timeout. As the defensive struggle continued, Ehis Etute scored for Oregon, and Addi Mack answered with a three-point play. Amina Muhammad put Oregon up by one at 14-13 at the end of the first quarter with a last-second layup.
Avery Cain started the second quarter scoring for Oregon with a three-pointer, followed by a basket by Etute. Kyndal Walker snapped a 9-0 run with a driving bucket, followed by a basket from Izzy Ozzy-Momodu. The play stayed even during the second-quarter media timeout, as Oregon led by four at 25-21. Oregon maintained its lead by using its size advantage; however, Okananwa’s scoring kept them in the game, and eventually the Terps regained the lead with their lockdown defense.
Maryland led 36-30 at the half as Okanwawa scored 23 first-half points.
Oregon went on a 10-2 run to put the Ducks up 40- 38, before Mack’s three-pointer put the Terps back up on top before the third quarter media timeout. The defensive struggle waged on until an Okanawana basket at the third quarter buzzer put Maryland up 50-44 at the end of the third quarter.
Etute scored the first two baskets of the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to two to begin the fourth quarter at 50-48 with 7:58 remaining in regulation. Mack made a tough basket out of the timeout, then followed it up with another basket. After the following media timeout, Bell made a three-pointer to put Oregon up by one after the media timeout, followed by two more three-point baskets by Bell. Ari Long followed up with a basket with 1:30 to go to put Oregon up by six and was able to hold on from that point for the victory.
Bell scored 16 points for Oregon, and Etute scored a team-high 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Ducks. Okananwa scored a game-high 27 points, and Mack scored 17 for Maryland, which is in the midst of its longest losing streak in two seasons, when it also lost four consecutive games.
Yarden Garzon scored her 1,500th career point in the second quarter of Saturday’s game.
Maryland will travel to Michigan State on Wednesday evening, while Oregon will return home to play Illinois, also on Wednesday evening.
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