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Maryland women’s basketball takes the long way home Maryland women’s basketball takes the long way home
(about 5 hours later)
Following two road trips in less than a week plus a blizzard that crippled the mid-Atlantic region, the fifth-ranked Maryland women’s basketball team finally is set to play at Xfinity Center for the first time in nearly two weeks and for the second time since Jan. 7. Following two road trips in less than a week plus a blizzard that crippled the mid-Atlantic region, the fifth-ranked Maryland women’s basketball team finally is set to play at Xfinity Center for the first time in nearly two weeks and only the second time since Jan. 7.
The Terrapins have been so focused on the task at hand, though, that the protracted layoff between home games was somewhat of an afterthought 24 hours before the reigning Big Ten regular season and tournament champions face Indiana on Saturday in College Park. The Terrapins have been so focused on the task at hand, though, that the protracted layoff between home games was somewhat of an afterthought 24 hours before they face Indiana on Saturday in College Park.
“I didn’t realize it had been that long,” Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. “I think we’re just kind of locked in on practices and who our next opponent is, but yeah, anytime you can come back to Xfinity where we feel like we have the best fans in the country and playing at home, it’s a big deal.” “I didn’t realize it had been that long,” Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. “I think we’re just kind of locked in on practices and who our next opponent is, but yeah, any time you can come back to Xfinity where we feel like we have the best fans in the country and playing at home, it’s a big deal.”
[Maryland’s March, Part 4: Turgeon holds it all together][Maryland’s March, Part 4: Turgeon holds it all together]
A victory would move Maryland (18-2, 7-1) into a first-place tie in the conference standings and would be its 10th this season at home. Since joining the Big Ten two years ago, the Terrapins are 28-1 at Xfinity Center, including NCAA tournament victories last season in the opening two rounds. A victory would move Maryland (18-2, 7-1), the reigning Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, into a first-place tie in the conference standings . Since joining the league two years ago, the Terrapins are 28-1 at Xfinity Center, including NCAA tournament victories last season in the opening two rounds.
Maryland drew nearly 8,000 fans to each of those games, and this season it ranks fifth out of 14 teams in the Big Ten in attendance. The Terrapins’ season high in attendance was 10,119 against No. 7. Ohio State on Jan. 2. The Buckeyes won, 80-71, to hand Maryland its only conference loss as a member of the Big Ten.Maryland drew nearly 8,000 fans to each of those games, and this season it ranks fifth out of 14 teams in the Big Ten in attendance. The Terrapins’ season high in attendance was 10,119 against No. 7. Ohio State on Jan. 2. The Buckeyes won, 80-71, to hand Maryland its only conference loss as a member of the Big Ten.
Since then the Terrapins have been stampeding through the conference with an average margin of victory approaching 26 points during the last six games, including 80-62 over Northwestern Jan. 17 at Xfinity Center. That rematch of last season’s Big Ten tournament semifinals also was the last time Maryland played at home. Since then, the Terrapins have been stampeding through the conference with an average margin of victory approaching 26 points during the past six games, including 80-62 over Northwestern Jan. 17 at Xfinity Center. That rematch of last season’s Big Ten tournament semifinals also was the last time Maryland played at home.
Its next home game was supposed to be Jan. 23 against Michigan State, but the storm that dumped more than two feet of snow in the D.C. area forced the matchup to be postponed until Feb. 5. The game initially was moved to Jan. 25, but the Spartans were unable to travel to College Park last weekend because carriers suspended flights in and out of local airports.Its next home game was supposed to be Jan. 23 against Michigan State, but the storm that dumped more than two feet of snow in the D.C. area forced the matchup to be postponed until Feb. 5. The game initially was moved to Jan. 25, but the Spartans were unable to travel to College Park last weekend because carriers suspended flights in and out of local airports.
“Coach always says it’s very important to win on the road, and I think we’ve done a great job of that this last stretch,” junior guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough said, “and now we can come home to protect our house against Indiana.”“Coach always says it’s very important to win on the road, and I think we’ve done a great job of that this last stretch,” junior guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough said, “and now we can come home to protect our house against Indiana.”
Walker-Kimbrough has made strides in particular with ball security during the last two road games. The first-team all-Big Ten selection committed eight turnovers against the Wildcats but since has a total of five while averaging 24 points per game. Walker-Kimbrough has made strides in particular with ball security during the past two road games. Walker-Kimbrough, a first-team all-Big Ten selection last season, committed eight turnovers against the Wildcats but since has a total of five while averaging 24 points per game.
Walker-Kimbrough remains by the far the national leader in three-point field goal percentage, a 60.6 rate that would shatter the Division I season record of 57.5 set by Heather Donlon of Fordham in 1990. The Terrapins’ leading scorer (18.1 points per game) is 11 for 13 from beyond the arc in the last two games, including 6 of 6 during a 90-65 win against Wisconsin Jan. 20 at Kohl Center. She remains by the far the national leader in three-point shooting, hitting at a 60.6 percent rate that would shatter the Division I season record of 57.5 set by Heather Donlon of Fordham in 1990. The Terrapins’ leading scorer at 18.1 points per game, Walker-Kimbrough is 11 for 13 from beyond the arc in the last two games, including 6 of 6 during a 90-65 win against Wisconsin Jan. 20 at Kohl Center.
Maryland leads the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage (41.2) and has four players shooting at least 40 percent, including Kristen Confroy (44 percent). The sophomore guard matched the program record for three-pointers in a game by making 8 of 10 against Northwestern. Maryland leads the Big Ten in three-point shooting (41.2 percent) and has five players shooting at least 40 percent. The sophomore guard matched the program record for three-pointers in a game by making 8 of 10 against Northwestern.
Redshirt senior guard Brene Moseley (Paint Branch High School) has made 18 of 45 (40 percent), and senior forward Tierney Pfirman is 9 of 20 (45 percent).Redshirt senior guard Brene Moseley (Paint Branch High School) has made 18 of 45 (40 percent), and senior forward Tierney Pfirman is 9 of 20 (45 percent).
Indiana (13-8, 5-4) ranks seventh in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot nearly 32 percent. The Terrapins are shooting 52 percent (26 for 50) on three-pointers over the last three games. Indiana (13-8, 5-4) ranks seventh in the Big Ten in three-point field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot nearly 32 percent. The Terrapins are shooting 52 percent (26 for 50) on three-pointers over the past three games.
“It makes it easier for our inside players,” Moseley said of Maryland’s three-point efficiency. Brionna Jones “in my opinion is the best post player in the country, so she’s going to attract a lot of attention from everyone wherever she goes. Her presence alone, people are going to double- and triple-team her. Us being able to knock some shots down from the outside relieves a lot of pressure.”“It makes it easier for our inside players,” Moseley said of Maryland’s three-point efficiency. Brionna Jones “in my opinion is the best post player in the country, so she’s going to attract a lot of attention from everyone wherever she goes. Her presence alone, people are going to double- and triple-team her. Us being able to knock some shots down from the outside relieves a lot of pressure.”