Coming into Thursday’s game, Maryland’s senior guard Shyanne Sellers was 1-5 against Indiana as a Terrapin and had never won at Assembly Hall. It was clear that was on her mind in the fourth quarter.
Starting with a 3-pointer eight seconds into the last 10 minutes, Sellers finally got in rhythm and got one to go down after starting 2-for-8 from the field. She then hit another one 32 seconds later, and from there on out, she would go 5-for-7 (including 3-for-4 from 3) from the field in the quarter and score 21 of her 25 points to power the Terrapins to a 74-60 win over the Hoosiers.
“I knew I hadn’t won here, and that was really important to me,” Sellers said. “Also, Illinois spoiled our Senior Night, and it was time to spoil somebody else’s.”
IU honored its trio of seniors — Chloe Moore-McNeil, Sydney Parrish and Karoline Striplin — on Thursday. Moore-McNeil played her 148th game in an Indiana uniform, matching Grace Berger’s program record.
When asked why Indiana was not able to stop Sellers, Indiana head coach Teri Moren said she out-toughed Indiana and was going to get hers.
“I mean, she’s a pro,” Moren said. “Kids like her get cooking and see one go in, and things start to feel really easy for them.”
Although Sellers took over the fourth quarter, it was a total team effort that handed No. 19 Maryland the win. Every player that checked into the game for the Terrapins scored, which is how they were able to answer almost every Hoosier run.
This game was another example of how inconsistent the Hoosiers have been this season in almost every facet of the game. After winning the rebounding battle against a ranked Ohio State team last week by 14, the Hoosiers were demolished on the boards (losing the battle by 15). With the postseason quickly approaching, IU needs to find some consistency soon.
“It’s been hard to figure out sort of the recipe to get to them where they’re not making the same mistakes,” Moren said.
To find the solution to this problem, Parrish said it starts with handling business Sunday at Purdue.
“Making sure we punch first,” Parrish said. “Being stronger with the ball and not forcing turnovers that are careless.”
With only two games left for sure, 17-11 Indiana will need to come out with this mentality, or they could be sent home in early March.
