NFL
By: Nathan Snell
The weekend was unforgettable for most Maryland Sports Fans. The Washington Commanders were embarrassed by the Minnesota Vikings 31-0. Then, the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-22.
Then came Sunday afternoon, No. 7 Maryland was on the road for the conference game against Minnesota. Hours before the game, the team released a post on X
🙏🏽 for a speedy recovery for Kaylene Smikle 🫶🐢 pic.twitter.com/3wvIjyJ06o
— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@TerpsWBB) December 7, 2025
Kaylene Smikle, who had missed three games, was averaging 13 points a game and would miss the remainder of the season
But the Maryland Terrapins soldiered on for 50 minutes against the Minnesota Golden Gophers and earned their first-ever double overtime road victory. A late rally by the Terps, and bad miscues by Minnesota within 44 seconds, rallied the Terps to a 100-99 win.
Let’s break down the game:
A tale of two halves (Part One)
Maryland looked flat in the first half. The Terrapins’ lineup was just inconsistent. This team, earlier in the season, found ways to score 80 or more points without Kaylene Smikle and Bri McDaniel. But since then, the Terps now have three guards out for the year: Lea Bartelme, Bri McDaniel, and now Kaylene Smikle.
At the end of the first quarter, the Terrapins faced a 14-point deficit. One could argue that losing Smikle at the minute and having to make last-minute adjustments. Defensively, the Terrapins had no answers for Grace Grocholski in the first half as she finished with three pointers and five assists. Fouls and just not enough offense showed.
A tale of two halves (Part Two)
Head Coach Brenda Frese’s bread and butter is defense. In the second quarter, the Terps went into the zone and even showed a full-court press at various times in the game. Coming out of the locker room down 14 points, and in fairness, the lineup adjustment, and attacking Minnesota at the rim was a huge success.
Overtime IS Maryland Time
For Minnesota, those 45 seconds were a nightmare.
The Terrapins seemed to lose their flame in the second overtime due to foul trouble, and Minnesota took advantage of the free-throw line.
Grocholski put the dagger in the heart of the Terps, and up nine points, the game seemed to be over… what happened next is still being processed.
Saylor Poffenbarger went to the free throw with 47 seconds and made both free throws, 99-92.
Kyndal Walker was subbed in for Saylor as she had played 50 minutes at that point in the game.
All Minnesota has to do is inbound and play the free-throw game, and the game is over. Nope, Tori McKinney inbounded the ball and attempted to pass it up the court, but Walker intercepted it. Count the basket and the foul.
Minnesota 99 Maryland 95
All Minnesota has to do is inbound and play the free-throw game, and the game is over. This possession, a trap by Yarden Garzon and Addi Mack, forced a bad pass that led to an Oluchi Okananwa three-point play.
Minnesota 99 Maryland 98
This is where Minnesota wishes the game were in their hands. The Terrapins played some of the best defense within those 30 seconds. Amaya Battle forced a bad pass that led to Saylor Poffenbarger’s game-winning layup.
Minnesota 99 Maryland 100
That game was arguably the best moment of the season so far, and since the NCAA Tournament last year, it was Maryland’s first road win in overtime.
