Takeaways from College Park: Hot-handed duos set up Maryland-Alabama duel

Alabama’s sharp-shooting tandem of Aaliyah Nye and Zaay Green combined for 45 entertaining points, fending off a spirited challenge from the relentless Green Bay Phoenix in an 81-67 victory.

Likewise, fourth-seeded Maryland leaned heavily on the explosive duo of Sarah Te-Biasu and Kaylene Smikle to escape a similar upset-minded opponent in 13th-seeded Norfolk State. They combined for 43 points and eight 3-pointers to finally subdue visiting Norfolk State, 82-69. Both games were much more competitive than the final score indicated.

All four players scored at least 20 points in their respective victories. Here are the takeaways from each game:

Smikle and Te-Biasu came alive for Maryland

Trailing Norfolk State 32-30, at intermission, Te-Biasu made her presence immediately felt within the first 90 seconds. She sank a pair of 3-pointers sandwiched around a Maryland defensive stop to give the Terps a 36-32 lead. Maryland never trailed after her first 3-pointer swished through the nets. Allie Kubek, impactful with 16 points and eight rebounds, recorded the assists on both of Te-Biasu’s 3-pointers.

In scoring 16 of her 22 points in the second half, Te-Biasu finished with a season-high six 3-pointers, one off her career-high when she played at VCU. She admitted the transition from VCU to Maryland was challenging, but she eventually got comfortable and started playing loose. As the only member of Maryland’s starting line-up under six feet, the 5’5 graduate guard was large and in charge from beyond the arc. She was happy to have her teammates’ encouragement.

“My teammates were like, keep shooting, keep shooting, we need you to shoot,” Te-Biasu told reporters during the postgame press conference. “That gave me confidence, and I kept shooting … Sometimes you just got to make adjustments. I came to the Big Ten; it’s different. But my teammates and the coaches were there to give me confidence. Coach Brenda believed in me, and I was just like, okay. Just adjust and play basketball.”

Her shooting opened the floodgates to a huge third quarter for the Terps, who scored 30 points. Smikle and Te-Biasu scored 18 points in the third frame. While Maryland made 8-for-15 shots from the field in the third quarter, the big difference was its 12-for-12 accuracy in the frame. Norfolk State was whistled for three fouls while Maryland was shooting 3-pointers. It was a frustrating sequence for Norfolk State, and it allowed Smikle to find her groove, especially in the fourth quarter.

Playing her first NCAA Tournament game, Smikle didn’t score her first points until 1:18 remained in the second quarter, via a backdoor cut to the basket. Smikle, who scored 21 points, shined late for Maryland, especially after Norfolk State closed at 60-56, with 8:37 remaining, following a Da’Brya Clark. With the sizable green-and-gold contingent making plenty of noise, the Terps used a decisive 12-2 burst fueled by two 3-pointers each from Te-Biasu and Smikle to expand their lead to 72-58. Yet, Norfolk State closed within 72-65, with two minutes remaining.

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For Te-Biasu, this performance was another in a recent series of stellar performances. In addition to making the game-winning 3-pointer from just inside half court to beat Ohio State in the regular season finale, this was her fifth game with at least 20 points since Jan. 29. The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient has scored in double digits in 10 of Maryland’s last 13 games.

Maryland head coach Brenda Frese couldn’t contain her enthusiasm when she was asked about Te-Biasu.

“Gosh,” Frese said. “Where do I begin? I think everywhere. When you first talk about like off — you know, her running the team and knowing what we want and she understands the system, then when we needed her offense. And that’s taken off. She’s an elite-level scorer. And then she’s become, quite honestly, like one of our best defenders. … Coming from VCU, when she first got her, she wasn’t that. She’s taken great pride on both ends of the floor. And you see, when we have to take her off the floor, it’s very impactful. We’re missing a massive piece. So, on both ends of the floor, she’s been huge.”

Spartan pride

Norfolk State was disappointed in the result, as it entered the game believing it could prevail. The Spartans executed at a high level for much of the afternoon, even after their All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) duo of Kierra Wheeler and Diamond Johnson picked up two fouls each in the first quarter, which altered the game.

Neither player could be as aggressive as they wanted, yet they still played well. Wheeler finished with 20 points and seven rebounds to lead Norfolk State. Johnson scored 16 of her 18 points in the opening half.

Sophomore guards Anjanae Richardson and Clark were their usual disruptive selves on the defensive end of the floor. Clark finished with 14 points and two steals, and Richardson scored 11. Despite the tough finish, the Spartans improved each year, from being a No. 16 seed in 2023, to No. 15 last year and a No. 13 this year, the highest in program history.

Norfolk State head coach Larry Vickers paused for a long time before beginning his opening statement. He was annoyed that the Spartans were called for 13 of their 21 fouls in the second half. Norfolk State attempted eight foul shots in the second half, the same amount as Smikle.

“We made some mental mistakes,” Vickers said to reporters postgame. “We really did. But this group won 30 games this year, 27 games last year, and 26 games the year before, and we still walk into these things [without] respect from the three people on the floor … I’m not saying the officiating lost us that game. We fouled, and we fouled, and we fouled, and we fouled jump shooters, and we fouled jump shooters some more … we probably sent them to the free-throw line on threes four times. That’s 12 easy ones. And you can’t do that on this stage in somebody’s home arena.”

The Spartans’ relentless defense and opportunistic scoring did keep the Terrapins uncomfortable through the afternoon, though. With quick hands and active feet, the Spartans forced 16 Maryland turnovers.

Wheeler, Niya Fields, and Makoye Diawara finished their terrific careers with three MEAC Tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, lifting the NSU program to unprecedented heights.

Nye applied the finishing touch

Not only did Nye surpass her single-season school record for three-pointers made with 109 after sinking four triples on the day, but she was also dominant down the stretch, scoring eight of her team-high 23 points after Green Bay closed to 59-54 with 7:19 remaining.

She made a 3-pointer that helped the Crimson Tide’s lead swell to 62-54. This was Nye’s seventh game with at least three made 3-pointers. She has scored at least 20 points in five of Alabama’s last 10 games.

“I think there was a sense of urgency,” Nye told The Next while standing outside the Alabama locker room as team staffers wheeled black equipment bags nearby. “Obviously, we have a lot of seniors and people leaving this year, including me, so I just want to do whatever it takes because [Alabama head coach Kristy Curry] has been talking about emptying the tank, so whatever it takes to win, that’s just what I was thinking.”

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Nye, who grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, transferred to Alabama from Illinois at the start of the 2022-23 season. She has been a scoring machine during her collegiate career, now with 1,728 career points and 387 3-pointers. Nye credits her former high school coach, Robert Smith, for helping her develop her shooting form and instilling the mechanics she needed to shoot consistently from deep.

Currently pursuing an MBA in graduate school, Nye is also a proud member of the Gun Lake Tribe, officially known as the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, located in Michigan. Growing up, she spent summers with her family immersed in tribal culture, deepening her understanding of their ancestral heritage.

Reflecting on her decision to transfer to Alabama, Nye expressed gratitude for the opportunity and emphasized the positive impact the change has had on her collegiate experience.

“It’s just the best decision I made,” Nye told reporters in the postgame press conference. “The coaches, the team, the culture here, we strive off of grit, love, and gratitude, which is our motto. I’m so thankful the grass was greener on the other side because sometimes it’s not the case when you transfer. But I’m blessed to be part of this program and this team.”

Green Bay balance

Green Bay, familiar with success and composed under tournament pressure, remained within reach late into the final quarter. Four Phoenix players finished in double figures, led by Maddy Schreiber, who scored 14 points in just 21 minutes off the bench. Cassie Schiltz contributed 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Natalie McNeal added 12 points along with three steals.

The Phoenix wrapped up their outstanding season with 29 wins. Green Bay’s 22-game winning streak entering the game was its longest since the 2012-13 season.

“I’m incredibly proud of our effort today, our team, and their performance. You know, this is a really difficult opponent,” Green Bay head coach Karly Karius said to reporters postgame. “I think Alabama has a great team, and obviously, they have scored at a high level all year and ranked in the Top 25 in the country, and yet I feel like our team came out fearless, and I loved our approach to this game.”

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