Preview: No. 18 Maryland women’s basketball hosts Coppin State in home opener

Photo courtesy of Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins

No. 18 Maryland women’s basketball continues its new season on Thursday, returning to College Park for its home opener against Coppin State (1-0).

The Terps (1-0) are fresh off a strong defensive display – holding UMBC to just 32 points – the lowest mark since 2019 and one of the fewest point totals in program history. 

But it didn’t always look comfortable for the Terps in its season opener. Maryland led by 11 at halftime, before pulling away early in the second half en route to its 74-32 victory. The Terps needed a 24-3 fourth-quarter scoring outbreak to put the game out of reach.

While the defense was the focal point of the victory, Maryland had a balanced attack, with three players scoring in double-digits. Senior forward Christina Dalce, a transfer from Villanova, led the charge with a double-double, recording 13 points and 10 boards.

Close behind were a pair of key returners in senior guard Shyanne Sellers and senior forward Allie Kubek, who put up 12 and 11 points, respectively. Sellers also had seven boards, while Kubek tallied eight.

A trio of transfers followed. Senior guard Sarah Te-Biasu put up eight points and four boards, while junior guards Saylor Poffenbarger and Kaylene Smikle each added seven points. Poffenbarger tallied seven boards as well.

Turnovers, however, were a giant issue that plagued the Terps throughout the game. Maryland racked up 22 turnovers, including 14 in the first half, a mark that ties for the second-highest total the Terps had in a game last year. 

“We have 10 new players and that chemistry is going to take time,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “I have to be patient within that process. Hopefully, we can start cutting those down.”

Maryland shot 50.9% from the field, shadowing its lackluster 2-13 effort from behind the 3-point line.

But the Terps made up for it at the free-throw line and in points off turnovers. Maryland went 14-19 at the line and scored 23 points off UMBC’s 25 turnovers. A 50-10 margin in the paint also helped, as the Terps used its 17 offensive boards to its advantage.

“When we went 0-6, it was emphasized then that we had the mismatch inside,” Frese said. “We had good looks. … Normally we are going to knock those down. I liked that we were able to adjust out of that and get more of a presence inside.”

The Eagles, on the other hand, had a much tighter contest. Finding itself down 70-69 to Frostburg State with 21 seconds left, Coppin State needed some late-game heroics. 

Junior guard Angel Jones came to the rescue, hitting a game-winning layup, before redshirt senior guard Tyler Gray effectively sealed the game, going 1-for-2 from the line. The Eagles, who led by six entering the fourth quarter, came out on top, 72-70.

Jones led the charge with 20 points on 10-15 shooting from the field while adding four steals. Senior forward Laila Lawrence, last season’s MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, was close behind notching 19 points and seven boards. Gray tallied 13 points of her own and six assists.

Redshirt senior guard Tiffany Hammond rounded it out, contributing nine points and six boards, including a block late in the game to prevent Frostburg State from taking the lead. 

The game was close throughout the first half, as Frostburg State took a 36-34 lead into the break. After Coppin State took a 63-53 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Frostburg State stormed right back, going on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 63 apiece. 

But the Eagles came out on top in the end, getting its first victory in a season-opener since 2021. 

Thursday’s game between these two foes will not be a first-time occurrence. Maryland has historically dominated the matchup, with a 16-0 record against Coppin State.

The last time these two squads faced off against each other was in 2021, when the Terps came out on top in a blowout, 98-52. But these are two completely different squads. Only Sellers remains from that contest.

Maryland will be looking to jump out to a big lead early and play cleaner basketball. The game will start at 6 p.m. and will be aired on Big Ten Plus.