Brenda Frese has a long legacy of sending Maryland women’s basketball players to the professional ranks, and it was evident on Tuesday.
Frese and a cavalcade of Terps were on hand as five Maryland alumni were on the rosters when the Washington Mystics walked away victorious over the Connecticut Sun, 92-80.
Had to come watch our 5 s in the @WashMystics vs. @ConnecticutSun #WNBA game! #ProTerps || #TerpFam pic.twitter.com/PrpJLuG8W1
— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@umdwbb) June 26, 2018
The hometown Mystics featured three former Terps in Kristi Toliver, Tianna Hawkins and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, while the Sun carry Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas on the roster.
Frese came with part of the coaching staff as well as (from left to right, clockwise) Sarah Myers, Blair Watson, transfer Sara Vujacic, incoming freshmen Taylor Mikesell and Olivia Owens, Kaila Charles, incoming freshman Shakira Austin and Brianna Fraser. It was the entire 2018-19 squad, sans Stephanie Jones and Channise Lewis—though Jones was surely in the building to see her older sister.
Toliver was the only Terp whose impact was felt on the stat sheet, finishing with 14 points, eight assists and three steals in 35 minutes. The rest of the pro Terps had lackluster days, with Jones ending with three points and three rebounds, Hawkins notching just an offensive rebound, Walker-Kimbrough coming up bagels in just a minute, and Thomas picking up a DNP (coach’s decision).
It was the Mystics’ third straight win, as they improved to 9-5 on the season and moved past Connecticut to take hold of first place in the East.
In other news
Maryland’s newest athletic director was officially introduced at a press conference on Tuesday, as Damon Evans laid out his plan for the future.
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