Preview: No. 20 Maryland women’s basketball prepares to take on No. 6 UConn

After a thrilling victory at Purdue on Thursday, No. 20 Maryland women’s basketball (8-3) returns home to Xfinity Center in a matchup against No. 6 UConn (7-1).

In the Terps’ 77-74 win over the Boilermakers, the Terps showed some of the resilience that coach Brenda Frese had been asking for. Frese even went so far as to label the Terps as “Cardiac kids.”

Down the stretch, the Maryland defense forced multiple key stops, including a turnover with seven seconds remaining to set up sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers’ three at the buzzer. 

Sellers (13.5) is one of the three Terps that averages over 10 points per game, alongside senior guards Abby Meyers (13.5) and Diamond Miller (18.5).

Miller has been the engine of the Maryland offense. Miller has four performances this season of over 20 points, including a pair of 30-point games over ranked foes Baylor and Notre Dame.

Senior guard/forward Brinae Alexander has been a key piece on the Maryland bench. Alexander is averaging 8.7 points per game — fourth-highest on the Terps.

The win last time out was number 600 in Frese’s career.

To get win 601, Frese will have a tough test on Sunday, as the Huskies travel to College Park in a marquee non-conference matchup. UConn is a perennial national title contender under coach Geno Auriemma, and it’s no different this year.

The Huskies have won four of the last ten national titles, along with producing dominant players like Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Katie Lou Samuelson and Christyn Williams. 

Two of UConn’s dominant players this season who will not be playing on Sunday are junior guard Paige Bueckers and sophomore guard Azzi Fudd. Bueckers tore her ACL before the season, while Fudd suffered an injury against Notre Dame, one that is expected to sideline her for 3-6 weeks.

Prior to the loss at Notre Dame, Fudd was averaging a touch over 24 points per game. 

“It’s not easy replacing 20 points in two days and trying to figure that out,” associate coach Chris Dailey said. “But as always no one’s feeling sorry for us, we’ve got players in our program that are gonna have to step up.

UConn is a dominant scoring team, as the Huskies average 83 points per game on the season. Additionally, the Huskies shoot 43% from three, which has been an issue for a Maryland defense that ranks in the 200s nationally in perimeter defense.

One of those players who is expected to step up in Fudd’s absence will be Lou Lopez Senechal. Senechal is averaging 17.5 points per game on the young season, and is shooting a remarkable 53% from deep.

Frese was pleased with the perimeter defense against Purdue, which will have to continue for the Terps against UConn.

“This is a prideful team and we did not like how it ended against Nebraska … we played a really team-based defense,” Frese said.

On the other side of the ball, UConn is allowing 64 points per game to opponents. Its defense focuses on pressure, forcing 17 turnovers a game.

Junior forward Aaliyah Edwards has been an all-around force for UConn this season. Edwards averages 14.8 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game, alongside over two assists and one block per game.

The game on Sunday will take place at 3 p.m. at the XFINITY Center in College Park.