Maryland women’s basketball vs. Michigan State preview

Maryland women’s basketball puts its 13-game winning streak and undefeated Big Ten record on the line when Michigan State comes to College Park on Thursday at 8 p.m. on BTN.

Brenda Frese’s team hopes to stay hot.

The Terps (15-2, 4-0) moved up two spots in the latest AP poll to No. 11 in the country and is the only team in the nation with seven double-digit scorers. Brenda Frese’s squad has been led by sophomore Kaila Charles, who’s averaging 17.6 points a game. Maryland has run through conference play so far, with their closest win coming against Penn State, 69-65. Every other game has been decided by an average of 26 points, including a 71-44 road win over Wisconsin on Jan. 7.

Kristen Confoy and Blair Watson are currently first and third in the conference at three-point shooting efficiency, hitting 47.2 and 44.1 percent from beyond the arc, respectively. The Terps as a team have the fourth-largest scoring largest in the nation, winning games by an average of 26.7 points.

The Spartans are trying to move up the Big Ten ladder.

Michigan State (12-5, 2-2) has had a mixed bag so far in conference play. The Spartans have picked up blowout wins over Indiana and Northwestern, but also have a three-point loss to Rutgers on their resume and are coming off a six-point loss to Minnesota.

Five different players average double figures for head coach Suzy Merchant, led by center Jenna Allen with 11.1 points per game, followed by guard Shay Colley with 10.7. Colley has upped her scoring to 12.5 points a night in Big Ten play, and forward Branndais Agee adds 10.3 points and seven boards a contest on the season. The Spartans excel at sharing the ball, and rank No. 9 in the nation in total assists.

This is the 11th time these teams have faced off and marks the first of three straight at home for Maryland. The Terps have taken the first 10 games of the series and will look to make it 11 straight when they tip off Thursday.

How to watch

Thursday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. (EST), Xfinity Center

TV: BTN

Streaming: BTN2Go