COLLEGE PARK, Md. _ The streak is alive and it could be a while before these UConn Huskies lose.
Facing a talented and energetic Maryland team in a sold-out arena, UConn got all it could handle Thursday night. But the No. 1-ranked Huskies made shots when it mattered most, notching their 87th consecutive win with an 87-81 victory.
Katie Lou Samuelson, who struggled to find her shot in the first half, had 23 points, including 17 in the second half. Kia Nurse had 19 and Gabby Williams 16 while the No. 4 Terrapins were led by Destiny Slocumb (23 points).
Last season, UConn earned a 10-point win over Maryland as guard Saniya Chong hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left at Madison Square Garden. On Thursday night, Chong hit a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left after Maryland cut the UConn lead to six points.
The win puts UConn on pace to surpass its record 90-game winning streak. UConn can reach 90 Jan. 10 against USF and pass it Jan. 14 at SMU.
The Huskies could go for 100 in a row Feb. 13 against No. 6 South Carolina.
UConn (12-0) had a 68-53 lead after three quarters, but Maryland energized the capacity crowd with an 8-0 run to start the fourth. After a UConn timeout, Samuelson hit a 3-pointer to give the Huskies some breathing room and a boost of confidence.
But Maryland never wilted, continually staying within 10 points in the final few minutes. But UConn prevailed for its seventh win over a ranked team this season.
UConn led 36-31 at halftime and did so without much production from leading scorers Samuelson and Napheesa Collier.
Collier had two fouls in the half and scored just two points in 14 minutes. Samuelson played 19 minutes, but struggled to find her groove. She connected on a 3-pointer 40 seconds into the game, but she missed her next five attempts.
Samuelson was 2-for-8 shooting for six points in the half. But UConn withstood Maryland runs and had the lead at the break, thanks to the other starters.
Chong scored five points in a row and six of UConn's eight points during an 8-0 run in the first quarter. UConn, which opened with a 7-0 run, watched Maryland storm back to make it 10-10 on eight consecutive points by Kaila Charles.
The Huskies led 18-12 at the end of the first quarter and went up 22-16 on a jumper by Kia Nurse before a 7-0 Maryland run. It was back and forth before another basket by Charles tied it at 27. Then it was Nurse's turn to take over, as the junior guard converted a four-point play when she was fouled while hitting a 3-pointer.
After a basket by Gabby Williams, Nurse hit another 3-pointer to give UConn a 36-27 lead. But Maryland finished with a 4-0 run to make it 36-27 at halftime. But Williams had three fouls while Collier and Natalie Butler had two.
And the momentum seemed to be on Maryland's side. But the Huskies scored 14 unanswered points in the first 2:19 of the third quarter.
The run included another four-point play, as Samuelson hit a long 3-pointer as she was being fouled and converted the free throw. Another 3-pointer by Nurse made it 50-31 and Maryland called a timeout.
After struggling in the first half, Samuelson found her offensive game. She scored 12 points in the quarter with two 3-pointers. UConn maintained a comfortable cushion throughout the fourth, even as Collier and Williams each picked up a fourth foul.
As the game moved into the final 10 minutes, the Huskies had a 15-point lead.
