Kennedy Cambridge’s 26-foot heave clanked off the glass as time expired Sunday in Columbus, sealing one of the most improbable victories of the women’s college basketball season. No. 20 Maryland clawed back from 19 points down in the first half to steal a 76-75 road win over No. 8 Ohio State, ending the Buckeyes’ four-game winning streak and delivering a significant blow to their Big Ten title hopes.
The Terrapins trailed, 38-19, after a Chance Gray three-pointer in the second quarter. They went into halftime down 15. By the midpoint of the fourth quarter, they held a nine-point lead.
Maryland’s Third-Quarter Surge Flips the Script in Columbus
Ohio State shot 9-of-14 from beyond the arc in the first half, with Gray connecting on 5-of-6 from deep en route to 19 first-half points. The Buckeyes looked every bit the team that throttled Maryland, 89-76, in College Park on Jan. 11. Jaloni Cambridge had 15 at the break, continuing her assault on a Terrapins defense that had no answers early.
Then Maryland remembered who it was.
The Terrapins outscored Ohio State, 26-14, in the third quarter, opening the period with a 20-7 run. Yarden Garzon found her stroke with six points during the surge. Oluchi Okananwa and Addi Mack added five apiece. The Buckeyes went cold, hitting a 5:04 scoring drought as Maryland chipped away possession by possession.
The glass work told the story. Maryland out-rebounded Ohio State, 45-29, grabbing 22 offensive boards that translated into 17 second-chance points. The Terrapins took 15 more shots than the Buckeyes off that advantage alone.
Mack’s three-pointer with 8:17 remaining gave Maryland its first lead since the opening possession, 62-60. The Terrapins pushed it to 69-60, and for a moment, the upset felt secure.
Ohio State is too talented to fade quietly. The Buckeyes scratched back, cutting into the lead possession by possession. Then came the chaos.
With just over a minute remaining, Gray grabbed a rebound and clashed with Okananwa. Gray shoved the Maryland guard, and the two exchanged words. After review, officials assessed flagrant fouls to both players. Okananwa, already carrying four fouls, was disqualified. Maryland would have to finish without its leading scorer.
Ava Watson buried a three to cut it to two. Free throws whittled the deficit further. With under five seconds left and Maryland clinging to a one-point lead, redshirt freshman Kyndal Walker stepped to the line. She missed both attempts.
Jaloni Cambridge grabbed the rebound. Ohio State called timeout with four seconds remaining. The Buckeyes designed a play for Kennedy Cambridge, who launched from 26 feet. The ball hit glass but never found net.
What Ohio State’s Loss Means for the Big Ten Race
The loss drops Ohio State to 22-4 overall and 11-3 in conference play, leaving the Buckeyes in a fight for positioning as the regular season winds down. UCLA remains undefeated in Big Ten play and firmly in control of the regular-season title race. Ohio State, which entered the game in third place in the conference, now faces a brutal stretch with Minnesota and a return trip to face the Bruins still ahead.
For Maryland, this is a season-defining result. The Terrapins improved to 21-6 overall and 9-6 in conference play. It’s their first road win over a top-10 opponent since beating Notre Dame in 2022 and their first victory against a top-10 team since upsetting Ohio State in the 2023-24 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Okananwa finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds despite fouling out. Garzon matched her with 17 points. Mack’s 14, including clutch shooting in the comeback, proved vital. Saylor Poffenbarger contributed 13 points.
Jaloni Cambridge’s 29 led all scorers, and Gray’s season-high 25 gave Ohio State 54 combined points from its backcourt. It wasn’t enough because the Buckeyes couldn’t secure a rebound when they needed one most.
Brenda Frese’s Message Sparks Maryland’s Historic Rally
Maryland’s largest comeback since erasing a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit at James Madison in November 2019 couldn’t have come at a better time. The Terrapins needed a signature moment, a result that would remind the committee they belong. They got one in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Brenda Frese’s teams have always been defined by their refusal to quit. Her halftime message, caught by cameras on the FS1 broadcast, was simple: You either want the smoke right now or you don’t.
Maryland wanted it.