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March is upon us.
No. 14 Maryland women’s basketball heads into the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 6-seed, and for now, are projected to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
The Terps will fly to Indianapolis and will face the winner of No. 11-seed Oregon and No. 14-seed Purdue on Thursday around 9 p.m. They will likely need to win at least one game to ensure hosting NCAA Tournament games.
If the Terps win on Thursday, they will seek revenge against No. 3-seed Michigan, who they lost to on Saturday.
“Hopefully it’s a wake up call for us,” Frese said after the loss to Michigan. “There are a lot of great teams … this is what it’s going to look like when we go to the Big Ten Tournament, as well as the NCAA.”
But the Terps having this good of a standing entering the postseason seemed unlikely at points this season.
Maryland started the season ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll, and jumped as high as No. 7 after a 14-0 start. But the Terps having this good of a standing entering the postseason seemed unlikely at points this season.
Part of its potential was derailed by injuries. First, Lea Bartelme tore her ACL. Later on in nonconference play, Ava McKennie did so as well.
Kaylene Smikle opted to undergo season-ending knee surgery after playing seven games and Bri McDaniel opted to redshirt the year after tearing her ACL last season. Just like that, two players who were once viewed as vocal points of the lineup were unavailable.
The remainder of the team needed to step up. Most did at points during the season, but it didn’t come without adversity.
Big Ten play started well, but things turned as 2026 rolled in. A close New Year’s Day loss to Illinois and a home loss to then-No. 19 Ohio State set the stage for four straight losses — three at home — tying the longest losing streak ever under head coach Brenda Frese..
The Terps hit rock bottom. Then, something changed and they rattled off six consecutive wins in February before losing the regular-season finale to No. 8 Michigan.
“So proud of this group, with the stretch that we’ve had in February, but this game will definitely humble us and some key takeaways that are going to help us going into March,” Frese said after the loss to Michigan.
Maryland stayed resilient and had success through the emergence of a new star, along with the rest of its rotation.
Oluchi Okananwa has been Maryland’s best player this season. The Terps have gone as she has and it’s worked. She averages 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, shooting 52.2% from the field.
Indiana transfer Yarden Garzon took some time to get comfortable at Maryland, but has been lights out from deep. She leads the Big Ten in 3-pointers made and attempted, while shooting 39.1% – 11th best in the conference. Garzon averages 13 points, four rebounds and three assists per game.
Isi Ozzy-Momodu has emerged as the main big and has injected energy into her team.
The biggest surprise, however, was the freshmen. Especially Addi Mack. Through nonconference play, Mack became Maryland’s starting point guard and ran with it. She has struggled at times in Big Ten play, but has been a key reason why injuries didn’t sink the Terps.
Then, Kyndal Walker emerged. She didn’t have the opportunity until Big Ten play, but was easily the most developed player through the season. She became the sixth option and has seen offensive success.
Rainey Welson was seen as someone who would ride the bench for most of the season. But her absence became a key reason for the four-game losing streak, and her return sparked the six-game winning streak. She once looked a bit lost on the court, but then found a stroke from deep and has seen increased minutes as the season progressed.
The last member of Maryland’s rotation, didn’t get much playing time until late. But Mir McLean was always seen as a valuable piece, and proved her worth in the winning streak. She even became a starter as Ozzy-Momodu dealt with a lower leg injury.
From an undefeated nonconference slate to losing six of the first 11 conference games, then finishing by winning six of the last seven, this season has been a roller coaster.
That said, it will all be defined in March Madness.
“Love where we’re trending and peaking in February to get ready for March,” Frese said.