Bri McDaniel, Allie Kubek lead Maryland women’s basketball to 99-51 win over Towson

Bri McDaniel galloped down the court on Maryland’s opening possession after corralling a rebound off a missed Towson three pointer. The sophomore crossed over to her left hand before finishing with a scooping layup off the left side of the glass, notching Maryland’s first points of the game.

And the Xfinity Center erupted. 

All 10,000 children from 70 local schools shrieked at the top of their lungs in support of the Terps on the annual field trip day hosted by Maryland women’s basketball. 

Two possessions later, McDaniel connected from three on the right wing, and the arena erupted into children’s screams again. And then once more, a minute later after the guard drained a pullup jumper and another scooping layup.

Whether or not the Terps were aided by the loudest – and highest pitched – noise at the Xfinity Center yet this season, they jumped to an early ten point lead just four minutes into the game and set the tone for the ensuing four quarters. Maryland (8-3) used the hot start from McDaniel and a strong performance from Allie Kubek to defeat Towson (7-2), 99-51.

“We always love this day. It’s a really fun day with so much energy in the building,” coach Brenda Frese said. “We hope these kids tell their parents they want to come back and that we’ve made them Maryland fans for life … I thought we fed off of that energy.”

McDaniel scored nine of her team-leading 19 points in the first quarter as Maryland led 23-8 at the end of the first frame. The guard, who has shifted into the starting lineup the past four games, tied her career-high scoring output against the Tigers. She has averaged 13.5 points per game and 4.8 in the starting unit. 

“Every little hole I saw I knewI could get through it because I’m fast enough. I was just going downhill … I was just playing my game,” McDaniel said.

The Tigers struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-13 in the opening period and finishing the game 30 percent from the field.

Kubek joined McDaniel and continued her strong play since moving into the starting lineup on Nov. 23. The forward notched 17 points, 13 of which came in the first half.

The Terps closed the first half ahead 46-15, holding the Tigers under ten points in each quarter. They continued their dominance in the second half following a half time performance of We Will Rock You by the students singing along in the bleachers, outscoring the Tigers 53-36.

Maryland shot six for 16 from the three point line Tuesday, a vast improvement from the 3-for-11 performance two days prior against Northwestern. The Terps have had their struggles behind the arc this season and entered the game with a 33.5 percent three-point percentage, the lowest since the 2010-11 season.

Brinae Alexander led the team with three made treys on six attempts. The graduate senior shot 1-for-5 from three against Northwestern, which coach Brenda Frese factored for the team not shooting efficiently Sunday. Alexander is the Terps’ biggest threat from three after shooting 43.9 percent last season and entering Tuesday’s game at a 40.9 percent clip. 

“My teammates and my coaches around me helped me stay encouraged, telling me that shooters shoot and just having that memory that you know if they don’t they don’t fall, just make sure you knock down the next one,” Alexander said. 

The Terps enter a week-long break following the win over Towson and will return to action Dec. 20 at home against James Madison. The bout against the Dukes will be Maryland’s last non-conference game of the season.