Addi Mack exploded for 35 points against No. 1 South Carolina in Maryland’s season opener, putting the entire women’s college basketball world on notice despite her Terps taking a 101-93 loss. This wasn’t just some solid performance; Mack single-handedly willed her team back from a massive deficit against the best squad in the nation, proving she is far more than anyone expected.
Mack’s Monster Second Half Sparks Wild Comeback
Talk about a statement game. Mack torched the Gamecocks for 35 points on an incredible 14-for-20 shooting from the field, including a ridiculous 6-for-10 from downtown, and dished out 6 assists. But it was her second-half takeover that had everyone buzzing. The sophomore phenom racked up 31 points in the second half alone, with 17 coming in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. Think about that: she outscored Golden State Valkyrie Gabby Williams’ WNBA playoff record of 28 points in a half. That’s Finals MVP-level production.
Her explosion ignited a fierce comeback, helping Maryland claw back from a daunting 31-point hole to cut South Carolina’s lead to just six points with 43 seconds left. Even in a loss, Mack was undeniably the best player on the floor, battling against South Carolina’s stacked roster. That’s a huge look for the young guard.
From Unranked Recruit to Unstoppable Force
This isn’t Mack’s first rodeo with eye-popping numbers, but the stage for this performance was massive. Last year, as an unranked freshman in the SportsCenter NEXT 100, she averaged 11 points per game. She even dropped 17 points in a quarter against Georgetown and followed it up with 15 against then-NCAA Tournament team Princeton. Fast forward to now, and her role this season was honestly a question mark given the arrival of star transfer Nunu Agara, top-15 freshmen Jordyn Jackson and Trinity Jones, and the returns of Bri McDaniel and Lea Bartelme.
But Mack answered those questions with a resounding “I’m here.” Her efficiency was off the charts: 60 percent from three on 10 attempts, a massive jump from her 29.9 percent last year. She showed off a quick release, confidence in her shot, and her ability to finish at the basket and hit from mid-range, shooting 70 percent overall. Senior Oluchi Okananwa, last year’s leading scorer for Maryland, even noted before the season how much Mack has grown as a player. This kid, who scored an unreal 4,687 points in high school in Minnesota, second all time in the state, is proving she can put up “eye-popping numbers” at the Division I level. As Mack herself put it after the game, her team’s mindset was: “We have an identity in Maryland Basketball and we didn’t think that we were putting that forth in the first half.” She certainly put it forth in the second.
This was just the first game of her sophomore year. If this is the kind of fire Addi Mack is bringing to the court right out of the gate, we’re all going to want to tune in for what’s next. Her ceiling looks absolutely limitless.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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