The current No. 1 team in America and defending national champions, South Carolina (1-0), will travel to College Park for a ranked matchup against No. 17 Maryland (1-0) in a big early season test for the Terps.
Both teams cruised through its first game of the season to start the season on the right note. South Carolina dominated East Tennessee State in a victory that saw the Gamecocks more than triple the Buccaneers’ score, 101-31, while Maryland outscored George Mason by at least seven in every quarter en route to a 88-51 win.
Maryland may be without a key piece on offense, as star guard Diamond Miller left the season opener early due to an apparent knee injury. Her availability is still up in the air, according to coach Brenda Frese. Despite the uncertainty revolving around the senior, Frese and the Terps are ready for the top-20 matchup.
“We don’t shy away from anyone,” Frese said. “It’s going to be an electric atmosphere … doesn’t get any better than this.”
For many of the Terps, it will be their first game in College Park — headlined by Princeton transfer Abby Meyers. Meyers had a great first game as a Terp, as she finished with 19 points off of 5-6 shooting from behind the arc against George Mason, filling the void Miller left with ease.
“I’m looking forward to stepping on that court wearing Maryland across my chest,” Meyers said.
Freshman guard Bri McDaniel also put in an impressive performance against George Mason. McDaniel accumulated 13 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, on 5-6 shooting from the field. McDaniel will look to bring the energy off the bench once again in an early test for the freshman.
“I love players that are fearless and play with confidence,” Frese said. “[McDaniel] plays both ends of the floor really hard.”
Sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers joined McDaniel with a good performance off the bench against George Mason. Sellers scored the second-most points of any Terp (14), and chipped in four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal.
Should Miller be unavailable, expect Sellers to be elevated into the starting five.
The test ahead for the Terps isn’t gonna change the way they play, as Frese says to expect Maryland to continue to play to their strengths — getting up and down the floor and shooting the basketball at a high clip.
Defensively, South Carolina prides itself on its size and could prove to cause matchup nightmares against a Maryland team deprived of an interior presence.
Six Gamecocks — led by reigning Naismith Player of the Year Aliyah Boston — are listed at 6-foot-2 or taller. The 6-foot-5 Boston served as the Gamecocks gamebreaker on the interior last year, as she averaged 16.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. The senior forward was a big reason why the Gamecocks won the National Championship a season ago.
“I mean it’s undeniable, their athleticism,” Meyers said. “Half their team can dunk … it’s one of those things where again, you’re grateful for the opportunity to play the champions.”
It’s a big opportunity for the Terps, and would be a statement win — especially without Miller — should they pull it off.
Maryland and South Carolina have met four times since the 2017-18 season. The Gamecocks have won three of the battles — including a seven point win last season in Columbia.
The last Maryland win came in the 2018-19 season, a 24 point blowout victory for the Terps on the road.
Maryland has yet to defeat South Carolina in College Park.
The game will tip-off at 6 p.m. and will take place at the XFINITY Center in College Park.
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