No. 22 Maryland women upset No. 12 Michigan State 86-70

Okananwa's 23 points lead Terps to victory over Spartans

Feb. 5, 2026 at 12:55am

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The No. 22 Maryland women's basketball team defeated the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans 86-70 on Wednesday. Oluchi Okananwa scored 23 points to lead the Terrapins, who shot 49% as a team and forced 20 turnovers. Maryland led 43-33 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.

Why it matters

This upset victory over a highly ranked opponent boosts Maryland's NCAA Tournament resume and shows the Terrapins' potential as they aim to make a deep postseason run. For Michigan State, the loss is a setback in their quest to secure a high seed in the Big Dance.

The details

Okananwa went 8-of-13 from the field and added 4 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal for Maryland. Yarden Garzon scored 16 points and dished out 5 assists, while Kyndal Walker had 14 points and Saylor Poffenbarger contributed 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. The Terps forced 20 turnovers which led to 23 points. Michigan State was held to just 4-of-15 shooting from 3-point range.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Oluchi Okananwa

A standout player for the Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team, scoring 23 points to lead her team to the upset victory.

Yarden Garzon

A key contributor for Maryland, scoring 16 points and dishing out 5 assists in the win.

Grace VanSlooten

The leading scorer for Michigan State with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in the losing effort.

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The takeaway

This impressive road victory over a top-15 opponent demonstrates the depth and talent of the Maryland women's basketball team, who are proving they can compete with the best teams in the country as they make a push for the NCAA Tournament.