Preview: Seed Oregon Faces Seed Maryland in Big Ten Tournament Semifinal

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — A rematch from just over a month ago highlights the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Championship semifinals Thursday, as the seed Oregon Ducks face the seed Maryland Terrapins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Ducks (21-11) earned their spot with an 82-64 quarterfinal win over Purdue on Wednesday. The Terrapins (23-7), who received a double-bye, last played on Feb. 28, a road loss at Michigan.

Oregon won the regular-season meeting 68-61 in College Park on Jan. 31, handing Maryland one of its two home losses this season. The Ducks have shown a pattern of following a loss with a win in recent weeks, a trend they continued by beating Purdue after a one-point loss to Washington.

Player to watch for Oregon is guard Katie Fiso, who is coming off a 20-point, 4-assist performance against Purdue. She has been a volume scorer for the Ducks, averaging 19.3 points over her last five games, though her efficiency has fluctuated.

Maryland counters with guard Oluchi Okananwa, a consistent offensive force. She averaged 21.2 points over a dominant five-game winning streak in February before being held to 19 in the loss to Michigan. Her ability to attack the rim and contribute on the boards will be key.

The Terrapins boast one of the conference’s most potent offenses, having scored 79 or more points in four of their last six games. Oregon’s defense, which allowed 64 points in its win Wednesday, will be tested more severely.

Oregon’s path has been uneven, with a 4-4 record in its last eight games. Maryland has been stronger down the stretch, going 7-2 since the loss to the Ducks, with both losses coming on the road to ranked opponents.

The winner will advance to Saturday’s championship game to face the winner of Thursday’s other semifinal between seed Iowa and seed Ohio State.

Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. EDT, following the first semifinal. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.