The Terps look to bounce back from a demoralizing loss.
After an embarrassing loss at home Thursday, No. 17 Maryland women’s basketball enters desperation mode starting Monday night.
The Terps will host Michigan, as they enter the final four games of the regular season.
Monday’s game will tip off at 6 p.m. and be televised on Big Ten Network.
Michigan Wolverines ( 18-7, 9-5 Big Ten)
Head coach Kim Barnes Arico is in her 13th season at Michigan and is the program’s all-time winningest coach. She has taken Michigan to seven NCAA Tournaments, including the last four seasons.
Michigan enters Monday on a four-game winning streak, but are 11-2 at home, but only 5-3 on the road.
Players to watch
Olivia Olson, freshman guard, 6-foot-1, No. 1 — Hailing from New Hope, Minnesota, Olson leads Michigan with 16 points per game, on 47.7% shooting from the field and 37.7% shooting from three. Olson also averages 5.5 rebounds and two assists per game this season.
Syla Swords, freshman guard, 6-foot, No. 12 — Swords has been a key piece of Michigan’s freshman star power this season, averaging 15.2 points per game. The Ontario native has started all 24 games she’s appeared in this season, shooting 43.2% from the field and 36.3% from deep. She also averaged 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Jordan Hobbs, senior guard, 6-foot-3, No. 10 — Hobbs brings senior leadership to this younger Michigan team. Hobbs averages 13 points per game in her fourth season with the Wolverines, enjoying her best season to date. She shoots 42.6% from the field and 30.4% from three while also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Strength
Three-point shooting. Michigan is the third-best 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten with a 35.8% percentage from beyond the arc this season. Greta Kampschroeder leads the Wolverines with a 44% 3-point percentage.
Weakness
Fouls. Michigan is tied for the second-most fouls per game in the Big Ten with 18.2. The Wolverines will have to be careful to not give Maryland too many free chances by getting in foul trouble on Monday.
Three things to know
1. Crunch time. The Terps have been skidding lately and have not won a home game in over a month. Maryland may need to take a trip to the hotel, motel or Holiday Inn on Pitbull Night to get things going and finish up the regular season well.
2. A bounce back is needed. The Terps got embarrassed at home by Nebraska Thursday and are in need to have a consistent four-quarter game. The Terps must come out strong and maintain that for the entire game to reinstill confidence back in the players and fans.
3. Someone besides Shyanne Sellers needs to step up. Sellers was Maryland’s only double-digit scorer Thursday. The Terps need a full-team effort from other starters — Saylor Poffenbarger, Allie Kubek, Kaylene Smikle and Sarah Te-Biasu — if they want to win Monday night.