The University of Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team lost 74-66 to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament on March 22, 2026, at the Dean E. Smith Student Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[1][2] Maryland entered as the No. 5 seed in the region, facing the No. 4-seeded Tar Heels.[1]

During the third quarter, Terrapins head coach Brenda Frese confronted guard Oluchi Okananwa on the sideline after the player turned the ball over, missed three free throws and missed a layup, leading to her substitution.[1][3] The two came nose-to-nose in an intense coaching exchange.[1]

"I believe in you, but you got to want this moment," Frese told Okananwa.[1]

Okananwa led Maryland with 21 points, six rebounds, two steals and six turnovers.[1] It was her first season with the Terrapins after two years at Duke, during which she averaged 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game and earned All-Big Ten honors.[1]

After the game, Okananwa expressed appreciation for Frese's style. "Coach understands I’m a competitor at heart," she said. "I’ve told her this before, and I’ll keep on telling her this forever. I love to be coached hard. That’s what she does with me every single day."[1][4]

Frese, who has coached Maryland since the 2002-03 season,[5] described her approach: "It’s always been a pulse that I’ve been able to have with individuals and players. ... At that moment, I watched Oluchi struggle within this tournament. She’s just too gifted, so I wanted to implore how much belief I have in her and challenge her."[1]

The loss ended Maryland's 2025-26 season. Frese previously coached at Ball State (1999-2002) and Minnesota (2002).[5]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital
   Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese came face-to-face with guard Oluchi Okananwa
   March 23, 2026
   https://www.foxnews.com/sports/maryland-terrapins-womens-basketball-coach-brenda-frese-oluchi-okanawna
2. Associated Press
   North Carolina vs. Maryland NCAA tournament photo caption
   March 22, 2026
   https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-womens-basketball-north-carolina-maryland-2026
3. Fox News Digital
   Game description and coaching moment
   March 23, 2026
   https://www.foxnews.com/sports/maryland-terrapins-frese-okanawna-nose-nose
4. The Athletic
   Oluchi Okananwa postgame comments
   March 23, 2026
   https://theathletic.com/college-basketball/maryland-unc-okanawna-quote
5. University of Maryland Athletics
   Brenda Frese coach profile
   Accessed October 2024
   https://umterps.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/brenda-frese/2418