Chloe Pavlech and Malina Howard looked on from the bench as their Terrapins women’s basketball careers came to a disappointing end. Brene Moseley and Tierney Pfirman, the squad’s other two seniors, slowly walked off the court having lost just their fifth game at Xfinity Center in the past four seasons.
The end came sooner than expected in a Round of 32 loss to No. 7-seed Washington on Monday night. The No. 2-seed Terps had their sights set on going to Indianapolis in early April for what would have been their third straight Final Four appearance. Instead, they failed to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2011.
But as coach Brenda Frese addressed the media after her team’s uncharacteristic performance, she harped on what the four seniors did accomplish over their careers rather than what they couldn’t Monday. For the veteran coach, it better represented what the players meant to the program.
“We have a lot to thank in this team and especially in our seniors when you talk about our Sweet Sixteens, two Final Fours, Big Ten titles,” Frese said. “I can’t say enough in terms of our seniors [and] what it has meant to be able to have them in the course of their career.”
On a team featuring two first-team All-Big Ten performers in juniors Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Brionna Jones, each senior made unique contributions.
Pavlech and Moseley, the team’s two point guards, took on larger roles after star guard Lexie Brown transferred to Duke in the offseason to be closer to home.
Despite averaging 2.3 points and 3.2 assists per game, Pavlech started all 35 contests and ran an offense that ranks fifth in the country in scoring (83.2 points per game) and second in field-goal shooting (49.6 percent). Moseley was a major contributor off the bench, finishing third on the team in scoring and first in assists en route to winning the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Award. She’s also one of five finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given to the nation’s best point guard.
With their two floor generals leading the way, the Terps finished with a 31-4 record and once again won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles.
In the frontcourt, Pfirman overcame an injury-riddled career to provide instant offense for the Terps off the bench, while Howard ended her career in College Park as a starter the past two seasons.
“The most important thing the seniors instilled in us is work hard at all times, no matter who’s watching,” freshman forward Kiah Gillespie said. “Just do the little things that separate yourself from the rest of the teams out there.”
Jones and sophomore guard Kristen Confroy talked about how the seniors showed the underclassmen what it takes to have long-term success on the court.
Their leadership extended outside the gym, too, as freshman forward Brianna Fraser credited Pavlech with helping her balance athletics and academics. And the team’s chemistry, which many said has been the best since they’ve been in the program, can be traced back to the Terps veterans.
At media day Oct. 20, about three weeks before the Terps’ season opener, Frese stood at the lectern inside Heritage Hall and spoke about how the four seniors would lead this year’s team. She addressed each player individually over the next few minutes, highlighting her work in the offseason and how she’d contribute going forward.
Frese also addressed the seniors one by one at the postgame press conference Monday night, but this time, she focused on how each player would make an impact outside of basketball. She discussed the possibility of Pavlech going into journalism or coaching. Howard aspires to become a doctor.
But as Howard prepares for medical school, she’ll always remember her involvement in the program’s success.
“It just hurts a lot. Us four seniors, we came in, and we wanted to have the best season we could and leave our mark on Maryland,” Howard said. “It’s not how we wanted it to end, but I’m glad I got the opportunity to play here and wear a Maryland jersey for four years and be a part of a lot of special moments.”
