Another game, another victory for Maryland women's basketball. After a 105-50 win against the High Point Panthers, the Terps are 2-0. You can call it a win streak if you want.
Once again, it was junior guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough leading the way early. In the first quarter, she racked up 10 points and didn't miss a shot. When it was all said and done, she had scored a career-high 26 points on 9 of 13 shooting from the field. She also led the team with 10 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals. It was her second career double-double.
Freshman forward Kiah Gillespie also set a new career high in scoring, but since this was only her second career game, such is not quite as noteworthy. She recorded 19 points and 7 boards, highlighted by a stretch at the start of the second half in which she scored 10 points in the first 4 minutes. Junior center Brionna Jones added 18 points and 10 boards, and was 8 of 9 from the field. Senior guard Brene Moseley, who led the Terps with 23 points against UMass Lowell, dropped 13 to go along with 9 assists.
Once again, Brenda Frese's team showed balance. Eleven players saw the floor, and nine scored. It didn't seem like any one player distinguished herself all that much, but the team as a whole looked a little more cohesive. Maryland scored three more and allowed three fewer than it did on Saturday. We'll see if they can keep this trend up against the Detroit Mercy Titans on Friday morning (That's right: The game is at 11:00 a.m. I hope you're awake).
Three things to know
1. The 2006 national title-winning squad was honored before the game. Laura Harper, in her second season as an assistant for High Point, was the Most Outstanding Player of that year's Final Four. Also present was Marissa Coleman, who now plays for the WNBA's Indiana Fever.
2. Redshirt sophomore forward A'Lexus Harrison got her first action of the season tonight after missing the UMass Lowell game with an injury. She played 12 minutes, recording 2 points, 6 rebounds and a steal.
3. Brenda Frese now has a 399-134 career record as a head coach (342-104 at Maryland). In all likelihood, her 400th victory will come Friday against Detroit. Get ready for a celebration.