No. 10 Maryland women’s basketball obliterates Loyola Maryland 80-26 in season opener

Photo by Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

In her first official game with No. 10 Maryland women’s basketball, Oluchi Okananwa made an immediate impact. 

The Duke transfer scored 11 of Maryland’s first 24 points, setting the tone for the Terps in their season opener. 

Backed by Okananwa’s 18 points, Maryland cruised past Loyola Maryland 80-26 on Monday night at the Xfinity Center in College Park. 

Maryland’s (1-0) ball movement stood out early. The Terps made 14 field goals in the first half – 10 were assisted on. Quick passes around the perimeter led to lots of open looks, converting on 6 of 11 3-point shots through the first 20 minutes.

Senior guard Yarden Garzon was key to Maryland’s offensive flow. The Indiana transfer, known as a 3-point specialist, made the extra pass on multiple occasions to find the open player – her six assists led the Terps. 

The Terps’ scoring effort was balanced throughout the game. Okananwa finished the game as Maryland’s leading scorer, dropping in an efficient 18 points on six-for-nine shooting from the field. Including her, seven Terps scored more than five points. 

The Greyhounds (0-1) couldn’t get anything going against Maryland’s suffocating defense. The Terps held Loyola to 15 total points in the first half, with the Greyhounds mustering just four points in the second quarter. 

Turnovers were an issue for Loyola the whole game, and Maryland capitalized frequently. The Terps forced 29 turnovers and came away with 35 points off them – the Greyhounds finished the game with 26 total points. Redshirt senior guard Saylor Poffenbarger was especially disruptive, picking up five steals. 

While the Terps forced a plethora of turnovers, they also committed plenty of their own. Maryland finished the game with 18 turnovers – most of which resulted from miscommunications or sloppy play. But the Terps’ defense remained strong in transition, surrendering just six points off turnovers.

On the glass, it was a one-sided battle. Maryland’s size was too much for Loyola Maryland, outrebounding the Greyhounds by 14 and picking up 10 offensive rebounds. Almost everyone who saw the floor got involved — no Terp had more than six total rebounds, with eight Maryland players finishing with three or more boards. 

Underclassmen for the Terps got involved early and often. Freshmen guards Lea Bartelme and Addi Mack and forward Marya Boiko all played significant roles in Maryland’s offense. Bartelme notched seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Boiko added eight points and five rebounds, while Mack finished with six points. 

The win marked Maryland’s 17th straight in their season opener. The Terps will continue their stretch against in-state opponents, hosting UMBC on Nov. 6.