COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Kaylene Smikle scored 19 points to help No. 8 Maryland remain undefeated with a 72-66 victory over No. 19 Michigan State on Sunday.

The Terrapins (12-0, 2-0 Big Ten) have equaled the second-best start in team history, bettered only by the 2006-07 squad which was 18-0. The Terps withstood a scrappy Michigan State team, holding the Spartans (11-2, 1-1) to 32% shooting from the field.

Michigan State trailed by 17 in the second quarter but fought back to a 57-all tie in the fourth. Maryland, which had gone over six minutes without scoring, broke that deadlock with a 3-pointer by Saylor Poffenbarger.

Maryland led 65-63 when Michigan State’s Jocelyn Tate was whistled for traveling on a fast break. Smikle pushed the lead to five with a three-point play, but Jaddan Simmons answered with a 3-pointer to make it 68-66.

Christina Dalce finally gave the Terps some breathing room, making a layup with 36.3 seconds left and then adding a steal at the other end.

It was a physical game in which points were often tough to come by, but Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers provided a moment of brilliance in the second quarter. She jumped to receive a long pass against Michigan State’s trapping defense and instantly whipped the ball behind her back to a cutting Bri McDaniel for a layup that put the Terrapins up 31-16.

A more representative moment came in the fourth, when McDaniel forced a held ball on defense but fell on her back with a thud. She was able to return eventually and made a big 3-pointer.

Takeaways

Michigan State: The Spartans nearly stole the game on the road despite poor shooting. They outworked Maryland on the boards in the second half

Key moment

After Dalce’s steal in the final minute, Maryland called a quick timeout before Michigan State was able to foul. Dalce is shooting below 50% from the line this season.

Michigan State attempted 18 field goals in the fourth quarter to Maryland’s nine — but made only six of them.

Michigan State tries to snap a two-game skid when it hosts Purdue on Wednesday.