The Maryland women’s basketball team hit the triple digits mark in its 114-45 victory over Loyola (Md.) on Monday evening.
“I thought that was a dominating performance where we kept our foot on the gas and never took it off,” Maryland head coach Brenda Freese said. “We’ve been talking about playing both ends of the floor defensively and offensively and now I feel like we’ve put together back-to-back games where I think we’ve taken major steps forward.”
The Terps (10-2) had control on both ends of the floor throughout the game. Maryland only allowed eight points in the first quarter and outscored Loyola (2-8) 32-12 in the second quarter.
“I just thought we kept making the easy plays,” Freese said. “We’ve talked a lot about playing to our strengths so finding Blair [Watson] to get a three or Ieshia [Small] comes in finding her kill zone at the free throw line, she did a phenomenal job.”
The Terps had five players to score in double figures. Sophomore guard Kaila Charles tallied 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Watson scored a game-high 24 points and six assists, while shooting 6-11 from the three-point line. Brianna Fraser scored 20 points off the bench and Small had an all-around performance, going for 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Maryland set the school and Big Ten record for most assists in a single game with 37. Freshman guard Channise Lewis led the Terps with 11 dimes.
“I feel way more comfortable now than I did at the beginning of the season,” Lewis said. “Each practice I’m getting better and getting more comfortable with each play.”
Maryland was giving Loyola all sorts of problems defensively as the Terps scored 39 points off of 24 turnovers.
“I liked how we came out and set the tone,” Freese said. “We practiced our full court press and I see it paying off.”
Maryland will take on Coppin State on Dec. 20 before beginning conference play against Illinois on Dec. 28.
Inside The Locker Room 