No. 14 Maryland women’s basketball upset by DePaul in opening game of Fort Myers Tip-Off, 76-67

DePaul’s lead was shrinking in the fourth quarter, as the Terps had inched closer and closer to controlling a game that the Blue Demons dominated for a majority of the first three quarters. 

So, when Kendall Holmes found herself wide open in the right corner with just under five minutes to go in the fourth, the junior guard drilled a perimeter shot that pierced the nets for a clutch three — putting DePaul up seven as the Blue Demons became ever so closer to securing the win.

No. 14 Maryland women’s basketball was upset by DePaul, 76-67, in its opening game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

DePaul came into the game ripping and roaring, as the Blue Demons jumped out to an 8-2 lead. The Blue Demons ranked tenth in the nation in scoring entering the game, and the first quarter showed their prowess. 

“Their offensive identity is to really spread you out … they took 30 threes today and shot 37%,” coach Brenda Frese said.

However, a Diamond Miller deep three seemed to get Maryland back on track, as the Blue Demons lead was cut down to 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Yet, the Terps’ defense surrendered too many open perimeter looks to DePaul, allowing the Blue Demons to shoot 33% from beyond the arc in the first half.

Holmes, sophomore forward Aneesha Morrow and senior guard Keke Rimmer all connected multiple times from deep in the half.

Morrow, the nation’s leading scorer, started to dominate in the second quarter. She scored 11 points in the first half, leading DePaul to a 35-27 lead at halftime.

Although on just 2-10 shooting, junior guard Darrione Rogers joined Morrow in double-digit points at the half with 10.

Maryland’s offense continued to be inconsistent from deep, as the Terps shot a lowly 26.7% from deep in the half.

Frese was unhappy with the amount of threes her team took on the day.

“Our game plan was definitely not to shoot 29 threes, we wanted to get downhill,” Frese said.

Miller, senior guard Abby Meyers and graduate student guard Elisa Pinzan were three of the four Terps with a make from beyond the arc in the first half, and all tied the Terps’ half-high with five points.

Frese reached deep into her bench in the first half, as she played ten different terps in the first half. Not often used reserve Ava Sciolla saw the floor, as Frese was unafraid to try different lineups.

However, coming out of the half, the Terps looked like a different team. Frese implemented a full court press which seemed to rattle the DePaul offense, as they forced four Blue Demons turnovers in the third quarter.

Gia Cooke provided a spark off the bench, as the freshman guard scored four third quarter points. Cooke and the rest of the bench helped trim DePaul’s lead to 49-45 at the end of the third.

Maryland started the fourth quarter off hot, as the Terps went on a 7-0 run to start the fourth. However, Depaul would not go away quietly as a Holmes and-one layup put the Blue Demons back by four.

Sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers tried to pull Maryland back in it, as the sophomore went on a personal 6-0 run to get her team within three.

“Shay and Gigi gave us a great momentum boost on the defensive end that we unfortunately were not able to sustain,” Frese said.

However, too many missed opportunities and open looks surrendered to DePaul handed the Terps their second loss of the season.

“It is really important for us to keep our foot on the gas, and [with how the] first half went, it was a little too late,” senior guard/forward Faith Masonius said.

The Blue Demons limited Maryland’s star senior guard, as Miller struggled mightily. Miller shot 25%, scored only 11 points, and fouled out — a far cry from her career-high 32 points against then-No. 17 Baylor just a game ago.

Maryland will look for a bounce back performance on Saturday against Towson.