Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 22 Maryland scores big road win over No. 12 Michigan State

Terrapins defeat Spartans 86-70 in Big Ten Conference matchup

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Oluchi Okananwa scored 23 points to lead No. 22 Maryland to an 86-70 road victory over No. 12 Michigan State on Wednesday in East Lansing, Michigan. The Terrapins went on a 21-5 run in the second quarter to build a double-digit lead that they maintained for much of the second half.

Why it matters

This was a key Big Ten Conference matchup between two ranked teams, with Maryland scoring an impressive road win over a higher-ranked opponent. The result could impact the conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding for both teams.

The details

Maryland had five players score in double figures, led by Okananwa's 23 points. The Terrapins went on a decisive 21-5 run in the second quarter to take control of the game. Michigan State cut the deficit to six early in the third quarter, but Maryland responded with an 11-2 run to regain a comfortable lead.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan.

The players

Oluchi Okananwa

A player for the Maryland Terrapins who scored a game-high 23 points in the win.

Yarden Garzon

A Maryland player who scored 16 points and played all 40 minutes.

Grace VanSlooten

A player for the Michigan State Spartans who led her team with 19 points and 9 rebounds.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the strength of the Maryland women's basketball team, which was able to go on the road and defeat a higher-ranked opponent in a key Big Ten matchup. The Terrapins' balanced scoring attack and ability to respond to Michigan State's runs demonstrated their competitiveness in the conference.