Maryland women’s basketball looking to start 6-0 for the first time since ‘21-22 season

Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball is 5-0 and looking to continue the hot start when it takes on Saint Francis (PA) at the Xfinity Center on Sunday.

The last time the Terps started 6-0 was the 2021-2022 season, when they made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament but lost to Stanford. 

While this team still has a long season ahead, the Terps have been dominant to start, knocking off two ACC opponents and three 30-plus point wins against all non-power four matchups.

The Terps now take on Saint Francis (1-5), who they have played once all-time, winning 70-48 in the first round of the 2011 NCAA tournament.

After two hard-fought matchups against then-No. 11 Duke and Syracuse, Maryland played its best game last Sunday against Towson. Six Terps scored in double figures. 

“The National Championship team had five players average in double figures”, said head coach Brenda Frese. “We have seven right now that average over seven points, and that’s going to go up with the chemistry now that’s being built.”  

With the Terps bringing in ten new players, the chemistry is growing by the game, but no player has made an impact like junior guard Kaylene Smikle.

Smikle leads the Terps, averaging 18.6 points per game, including four games in a row with 20 plus. 

“I think coming here has been an easy transition”, Smikle said. “Maryland plays my style of basketball, which is transition and playing fast. Coming here wasn’t really a hard transition knowing I can be myself.” 

Along with Smikle, transfers Sarah Te-Biasu, Saylor Poffenbarger and Christina Dalce have been staples in the Maryland rotation. 

Te-Biasu is second on the Terps in three-pointers made, shooting over 50% from three. Poffenbarger gives the Terps a stretch-big to shoot threes while averaging 7.8 rebounds. Dalce is third on the team in points per game, averaging 10.4, while also leading the Terps in rebounds with nine per game. 

Returners Shyanne Sellers, Allie Kubek and Bri McDaniel also make an impact for the Terps. Sellers is second in scoring, averaging 10.6 points, and leading the team in assists with 5.6. 

Bri McDaniel is fourth on the team, averaging 9.2 points per game, and is playing great defense. 

Kubek struggled to start the season, but she has played her two best games in the last two against Syracuse and her former team, Towson, where she scored her 1,000th career point.  

“I think it was kind of fitting that her 1,000th point came against her former team,” Frese said. “Ally’s been a tremendous scorer for us.” 

Saint Francis’ season has started differently than Maryland’s. The team has a record of 1-5 and picked up its first win of the season Wednesday against Robert Morris. 

After going 5-25 last season, Saint Francis season is following a similar trend. 

The Red Flash have a mutual opponent with the Terps in Coppin State, who they lost to 74-38, while the Terps beat the Eagles 70-47. 

Saint Francis has struggled to score, with its leading scorer, Yanessa Boy, averaging just 7.7 points per game and second-leading scorer Natalie Johson averaging 7.5 points. 

Maryland will look to start the game strong and pull away early against an inferior team, which has been a struggle in the first quarters against non-power four opponents this season. 

Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be aired on Big Ten Network.