Maryland clinches Big Ten women’s title with win over Illinois

Freshman’s big day paves the way as Terps net fourth Big Ten title in five years

Maryland claimed its first outright Big Ten title in three years on Saturday after the No. 8 Terrapins beat visiting Illinois 71-62.

Freshman Taylor Mikesell scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Terrapins (26-3, 15-3), who never trailed after early in the first quarter. The 5-11 guard, who entered Saturday as the conference’s leading 3-point shooter at 42.9 percent, made 4-of-9 from beyond the arc and converted all eight of her free throws to lead the way for her third 20-point game of the season.

Mikesell now finds herself just five treys away from matching Kristi Tolliver’s 10-year-old school record for 3-pointers at 91.

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Three other Maryland players scored in double figures. Stephanie Jones posted 14 points and nine rebounds, while Shakira Austin finished with 13 points and nine boards.

Blair Watson went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, adding 12 points. The Terrapins shot just 39.3 percent, but they had the range from outside as they made 8-of-17 3-pointers.

Illinois (10-19, 2-16) managed to tie the game at 39 after an Alex Wittinger bucket with 6:07 left in the third quarter, but Mikesell responded with a 3-pointer that started a 12-2 run the Illini, who lost their fifth straight, couldn’t answer.

Wittinger led Illinois with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

With the win, Maryland now will be the No. 1 seed in next week’s Big Ten Conference Tournament, which will be held at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Terrapins get a double bye and won’t start play until Friday at noon.

If Maryland reaches the tourney final, they will become the 11th women’s program to reach 1,000 wins.

Illinois will be the No. 14 and play in Wednesday’s second first-round game.

The tournament tips off on Wednesday. All games, except for the final, will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The final will air Sunday evening on ESPN2.

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