4-star center Olivia Owens commits to Maryland women’s basketball

Four-star center Olivia Owens announced her commitment to Maryland women’s basketball Wednesday morning, becoming the third player in the team’s class of 2018.

Owens is a 6’4 center from Niskayuna, New York, and is the No. 58 player in the class of 2018 according to espnW’s HoopGurlz Super 60. According to espnW, she is also the No. 11 post player in the class.

Owens joins forward Shakira Austin and point guard Taylor Mikesell in Maryland's class of 2018. The Terps join Florida State as the only teams to have three commitments from the top 60 players in the class.

When they arrive in College Park, Owens and Austin will provide much-needed height and depth in the post for Maryland. The Terps only started one true post player last season in Brionna Jones, but she graduated after a record-setting season.

Maryland still finished sixth in the country in rebounds per game, but sometimes struggled to rebound against bigger teams. In last year’s Sweet Sixteen loss to Oregon, the Ducks featured 6’4 and 6’5 post players, and the Terps barely out-rebounded Oregon 32-31.

Both Owens and Austin will overlap for a year with Brianna Fraser and two with Stephanie Jones, who should be Maryland’s best options down low this season. Their arrival may mean that sophomore guard Kaila Charles, who was second on the team in rebounds per game last season, may not have to score as much down low and could expand her mid-range game, which was shown in short spurts last season.