Maryland women’s basketball is in a familiar position to last year’s squad — flying under the radar from the national media in preseason rankings.
The Terps entered the 2022-23 season with a preseason ranking of No. 17 and were overlooked after having nine new faces join the team. The group exceeded the national expectations, reaching the Elite Eight for the 11th time in program history and the schools’ first since 2015.
Maryland is once again lower than its personnel expects, coming in at No. 14 in the 2023-24 preseason AP Poll.
“It bothered me because we made an Elite Eight and thought we should have been in the top ten,” guard Shyanne Sellers said.
Both the Big Ten coaches and media picked the Terps to finish fourth in the conference this season. Like last season, Maryland welcomes in a boatload of new pieces — welcomed in five four freshmen and NC State transfer Jakia Brown-Turner.
Sellers will be taking over the full-time point guard duties after Diamond Miller moved on to the WNBA, along with guard Abby Meyers. Even with losing the two, coach Brenda Frese believes her squad has more depth than last season.
Maryland is boosted with the returns of forwards Allie Kubek and Emma Chardon from season-ending injuries. Both will provide more length for Frese, which should help them excel in rebounding — a weakness last year.
The Terps ranked in the middle of the pack among Big Ten schools in rebounds per game a season ago (36.7), but averaged the fifth-fewest defensive rebounds per game (25). Another player that will provide length and depth is freshman Hawa Doumbouya. The center is the tallest Terp on the roster at 6-foot-7 by five inches.
“I think that’s going to help us on the defensive end,” guard Lavender Briggs said. “… Just having height helps us on the board as well. That might have been something we were lacking last year [when] rebounding.”
Briggs and combo guard/forward Brinae Alexander both return for their second years in College Park. The duo will gain a bigger role than last year, likely being featured in the starting lineup, after providing sparks off the bench in 2022. Both had breakout games against Iowa back in February, when Alexander scored 24 points with an excellent 6-9 shooting from beyond the arc and Briggs added 19 points without a miss from deep.
“They’re settled, comfortable and confident,” Frese said. “… Those two have been patiently waiting. I’m excited to see them able to have their opportunity this season.”
Faith Masonius, Briggs, Alexander and Brown-Turner provide a much-needed experience for success this season. The quartet should allow for quick team chemistry and a smooth transition.
“[The four graduate students] really have a strong voice in the locker room, on the court, really being able to help bring along the freshmen,” Frese said. “They all know what to expect, that’s the big thing.”
Maryland will once again play a tough schedule, including from the very beginning against No. 6 South Carolina and No. 2 UConn in back-to-back games during the first week of the season. The Terps will face No. 3 Iowa, and No. 7 Ohio State and No. 9 Indiana twice, in conference play.
“I don’t think it’s anything we’re not ready for,” Sellers said. “It’s just going to be an exciting battle.”
