Basketball Teams Take Big Ten Titles

The top-seeded Terps women’s basketball team captured its fourth Big Ten Tournament title and first since 2017 yesterday, while the men’s team earlier in the day grabbed a share of the conference crown.

The Maryland women’s team (28-4) notched an 82-65 victory over sixth-seeded Ohio State in Indianapolis, its 17th consecutive win since Jan. 12 as it heads into the NCAA Tournament eyeing a No. 1 seed. The bracket will be unveiled on March 16 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. NCAA Tournament first and second rounds will be held at Maryland March 20-23.

Big Ten Freshman of the Year Ashley Owusu posted 17 points along with a career-high 11 assists and six rebounds as she was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player.  

Stephanie Jones tallied a double-double with game highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Shakira Austin (14 points), Taylor Mikesell (12 points) and Blair Watson (11 points) also scored in double figures. Maryland also outrebounded Ohio State as it defeated the Buckeyes for the third time this season. 

Brenda Frese has led the Terps to Big Ten Tournament titles in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 and holds a 16-2 all-time record in the tournament, advancing to the championship game in all six seasons since Maryland joined the conference. 

Earlier, the No. 9 Maryland men's basketball team took down No. 25 Michigan, 83-70, to end its regular season and clinch a share of its first Big Ten conference title. 

Anthony Cowan Jr. had 20 points and eight assists in his final home game at Maryland. Eric Ayala scored 19, Jalen Smith had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Aaron Wiggins added 15 points for the Terps (24-7, 14-6). Cowan, a senior guard, went 7 for 11 from the floor and hit six free throws in the final minute.

Maryland moved into a first-place tie with Wisconsin, and Michigan State later made it a three-way deadlock by defeating Ohio State. If two or more teams tie atop the standings at the end of the season, it is a shared championship. 

Immediately after the game, Maryland was presented a Big Ten championship trophy, its first since joining the league in 2014. Wisconsin, however, is assured the top seed in the conference tournament starting Friday by virtue of owning the best record in games involving the first-place teams.

Michigan went 9 for 13 from the floor to start the second half, outscoring Maryland 25-15 to cut a 13-point deficit to 56-53 with 10 minutes left. Zavier Simpson led the surge with nine points on 4-for-4 shooting.

The Terps eased the pressure with a 9-2 run that included a pair of three-pointers by Ayala. After that, the margin never dipped below seven points.

After a sellout crowd saluted Cowan and two other seniors, the Terrapins trailed early before Ayala scored six points in a 14-2 run that made it 18-9. Minutes later, Wiggins had a 3-pointer and a dunk in a 7-0 spurt that upped the margin to 12.

Smith ended the half with a 35-foot heave at the buzzer that hit the bottom of the net and put Maryland up 41-28.

Cowan made his school-record 130th consecutive start. He ranks first on the Maryland career list for free throws made (579), seventh in scoring, fifth in assists and third in three-pointers made.