Maryland women’s basketball used its pressure defense to cruise past Holy Cross

When coach Brenda Frese was asked on Thursday if she was worried about Holy Cross dragging Maryland into a slug-fest style of game, she gave a seemingly knowing smirk. 

“You’re going to want to dominate the way you play,” Frese said.

Maryland’s style is playing up-tempo, constantly getting out and running in transition and turning opponent turnovers into easy baskets. Yet at some points in the season, the Terps would succumb to opponents’ gameplans. They would try to slow the game into a slog, making Maryland’s offense operate in the half-court.

It seemed as if Holy Cross was going to follow that same game script by attempting to limit the amount of possessions the Terps had, and hope the game would be close into the final minutes. The Crusaders drained the shot clock, taking their time on nearly every offensive set.

At least that was the strategy heading in. 

It did not take long before the Terps shred that plan into pieces though. Maryland picked up the Holy Cross offense full court, trapping at nearly every opportunity.

Shockingly, the Crusaders did not score their first basket until just under three minutes in the first quarter.

“That’s the goal of our press right?,” senior guard Abby Meyers said. “Get their nerves up, we can speed them up and get a 10 second call.”

Holy Cross looked like a team from the Patriot League — as it is — unable to adjust to Maryland’s length and pressure. The Terps overwhelmed all of the Crusaders guards, as 5-foot-3 junior guard Cara McCormack looked like a child compared to Meyers and sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers.

“I think in the Patriot League we are not really not used to seeing that type of athleticism,” senior guard Addisyn Cross said.

With starting four players under six feet tall, compared to Maryland’s one, Holy Cross was unable to find any open passing lanes or get any points inside the paint. 

The Terps forced 19 first half turnovers by speeding the Crusaders offense up. Holy Cross coach Maureen Magarity admitted that the length Maryland presented disrupted her game plan.

“It’s just hard for our guards to see the passing lanes, they’re just shorter than [Maryland’s],” Magarity said.

When the Crusaders turned it over, it was a transition offense clinic from Maryland. The Terps constantly found the outlet woman, as graduate student guard Elisa Pinzan had a number of great push-ahead passes.

“Our point guards are really doing their job today which is what we’ll need from down the stretch,” Meyers said.

Not only did Maryland get open layups in transition, but it poured in shots from deep as well. Senior guards Meyers and Lavender Briggs both knocked down two threes, helping lead the squad to a 47.4% showing from three.

The Terps coasted to a wire-to-wire victory, but the road will certainly not be as easy as it was on Friday.

As Maryland advances in the tournament, teams will be less likely to be overwhelmed by the Terps’ length and athleticism, including Maryland’s next opponent, the Arizona Wildcats.

Arizona starts an all senior lineup, as the roster is filled up and down with experience. Additionally, the Wildcats have two starters standing at 6-foot-2, mitigating the Terps’ length.

“They press, we press…it’s gonna come down to who can get stops defensively,” Frese said.

For now, Maryland will certainly enjoy the dominating win against Holy Cross and move onto the Round of 32. It was on the back of the pressure defense that got the Terps to this point, and it’s the pressure defense that will potentially get them to where they want to go.