Maryland Faces Off Against Alabama in Thrilling NCAA Women's Tournament Showdown

The fourth-seeded Maryland Terrapins will bask in the support of their home crowd in College Park as they prepare to clash with the No. 5-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide in a thrilling second-round encounter of the women’s NCAA Tournament set for Monday.

Maryland (24-7) managed to fend off the 13th-seeded Norfolk State with an 82-69 victory in the first round, sprinting ahead in the final quarter thanks to Sarah Te-Biasu’s 22 points and Kaylene Smikle’s 21 points.

Meanwhile, Alabama (24-8) snapped Green Bay’s impressive 22-game winning streak with a dominant 81-67 performance in their opening match, spearheaded by Aaliyah Nye’s 23 points and Zaay Green’s 22 contributions.

The two adversaries last faced off in an NCAA tournament encounter four years prior, a game where the Terrapins claimed a commanding 100-64 win. However, this matchup promises to be a more evenly contested affair.

Maryland’s Saylor Poffenbarger had the chance to seal the victory at the free-throw line, stepping up with six seconds left to extend the Terrapins’ lead to two possessions. She converted one out of two attempts, giving Maryland a 96-93 edge. In a twist of fate, Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker was fouled on her last-second three-point effort by Poffenbarger, securing all three free throws to push the game into double overtime. Barker had an outstanding game, recording a career-best of 39 points along with seven rebounds.

For Alabama, Aaliyah Nye and Zaay Green fouled out, while Barker was on the brink with four fouls. Maryland’s Kaylene Smikle also fouled out, with Shyanne Sellers dangerously carrying four fouls.

End of 4Q: Maryland-Alabama Goes to Overtime

Maryland’s Sarah Te-Biasu nailed a crucial 3-pointer with just 12 seconds left to level the score at 83-83, while Alabama’s Karly Weathers missed a potentially game-winning jumper at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

The No. 4-seeded Terrapins mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, overcoming a substantial 17-point deficit that Alabama built midway through the third.

End of 3Q: Alabama 64, Maryland 55

Alabama, ranked as a No. 5 seed, took charge, outscoring their No. 4 seed adversaries 23-16 in the third quarter. A decisive 14-0 run by the Crimson Tide ballooned their lead to 17 points at its peak. A barrage of 3-pointers bolstered Alabama’s nine-point cushion entering the fourth quarter. They made an impressive seven of their 15 attempts from downtown, with Sarah Ashlee Barker sinking three and Aaliyah Nye contributing two.

Halftime: Alabama 41, Maryland 39

Initially, the No. 4 seed Terrapins surged to a 10-point advantage in the first half, only for the No. 5 seed Crimson Tide to counter with a 13-2 run in the second quarter, claiming the halftime lead at 41-39.

Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker led her team with 17 points and four rebounds. The Crimson Tide boasted a striking 56% field goal percentage, albeit just 2-of-8 from three-point distance. Conversely, the Terrapins were shooting at 41.9% overall and a better 4-of-11 from beyond the arc. Shyanne Sellers spearheaded Maryland with 10 points, while Sarah Te-Biasu added eight.

Both squads struggled with ball-handling in the first half, each committing 10 turnovers. Maryland capitalized with 14 points off these errors, compared to Alabama’s 11 points from turnovers.

If Alabama triumphs, it will be a historic moment, marking the first occasion all No. 5 seeds topple No. 4 seeds in the same women’s NCAA Tournament.

Game Details: Monday, March 24, 2025 * Time: 5 p.m. ET * Venue: Xfinity Center College Park, Maryland * Broadcast: ESPN2 * Live Stream: Fubo - Watch Now!

Betting Insights [Courtesy of BetMGM as of March 23] * Spread: Alabama favored by 1.5 * Moneyline: Maryland/Alabama (-110) * Total Points: 153.5

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