COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning collapse and an even more stunning recovery, the Iowa women’s basketball team escaped Xfinity Center with an 85-78 overtime victory over Maryland in a pivotal Big Ten Conference clash on Thursday night.

The Hawkeyes, who led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, watched that commanding advantage evaporate under a furious Maryland rally, only to reclaim control in the extra period. The win improved Iowa to 17-2 overall, while Maryland fell to 17-4.

The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly the fourth quarter, where Maryland engineered a breathtaking 34-point outburst to force overtime. Trailing 48-39 entering the final period, the Terrapins unleashed a relentless assault, fueled by defensive pressure and opportunistic scoring. Oluchi Okananwa, who finished with 14 points, was instrumental in the comeback, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. Kyndal Walker, who scored 15, and Saylor Poffenbarger, who hit two crucial three-pointers late, provided the supplemental firepower.

Maryland’s press forced Iowa into uncharacteristic mistakes, turning defensive stops into transition points. The Terrapins chipped away at the deficit throughout the quarter, finally drawing even in the final minute. With the game tied at 73, Iowa guard Chazadi Wright’s potential game-winning jumper was blocked by Walker as time expired in regulation, sending a stunned crowd of 6,514 into a frenzy and the game to an extra five minutes.

However, the overtime period belonged entirely to Iowa. The Hawkeyes, recalibrating after the dramatic collapse, opened the extra frame with a 7-0 run and never looked back. Ava Heiden, who scored a team-high 20 points, and Wright, who led all scorers with 18, steadied the ship. Iowa’s defense stiffened, holding Maryland to just 2-of-10 shooting from the field in overtime while committing four turnovers. The Terrapins managed only five points in the period, all from the free-throw line until a last-second hook shot from Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu.

The game’s foundation was built in the middle quarters by Iowa. After a tight first period that ended with Iowa leading 16-12, the Hawkeyes began to impose their will. They outscored Maryland 32-27 across the second and third quarters, building their largest lead at 48-30 late in the third. Their offensive efficiency, posting a rating of 105.7 points per 100 possessions compared to Maryland’s 93.5, was key during this stretch. They shot 45.5% from the field for the game and were an efficient 8-of-18 from three-point range.

Maryland struggled offensively for long stretches, finishing at 37.8% shooting and just 5-of-21 from beyond the arc. Despite winning the battle on the offensive glass 18-12 and blocking six shots, the Terrapins were undone by 17 turnovers, which Iowa converted into critical points, especially in overtime.

Heiden’s 20-point, 6-for-4 effort inside was complemented by Wright’s all-around play, adding five assists in 43 minutes. Hannah Stuelke provided a solid 12 points and five assists for Iowa. For Maryland, Ozzy-Momodu was a force with 18 points and two blocks, while Walker’s 15 points and Okananwa’s 14 kept the Terps within striking distance before their fourth-quarter explosion.

Statistically, the game was a contrast in styles. Iowa’s offense, though registering only three assists, relied on efficient individual shot-making. Maryland’s physicality showed in the rebounding and steal columns, where they held a 7-3 advantage, but they could not sustain the precision needed to complete the comeback in overtime.

The victory gives Iowa momentum heading into a Sunday showdown with Ohio State. Maryland will look to regroup when it hosts Washington next Wednesday. According to pregame analytics, Iowa was given a slim 51.2% probability to win, narrowly defying Maryland’s status as a 1.5-point favorite. The combined score of 163 points surpassed the over/under line of 150.5.