Center Brionna Jones defends Clemson’s Nyilah Jamison-Myers during the Terps’ 95-43 victory over the Tigers on Feb. 9, 2014. The matchup was a Play4Kay pink game.
When Brionna Jones’ right knee gave out in a game during her senior year at Aberdeen High School in January 2013, her future role with the Terrapins women’s basketball team, the program she committed to the summer before, became uncertain.
Entering her first season at College Park coming off an ACL tear — an injury that decimated the Terps’ roster last season — unsettled the center, but it motivated her to improve so she could contribute when she was healthy.
“I didn’t know what to expect after that happened,” Jones said. “I was going to work hard and try to do what I need to do — what they wanted me to do — and see what happens.”
In the games before their matchup against Florida State tonight, Jones’ improvements have made her a significant part of the No. 8 Terps. The Havre de Grace native has started five straight games, helping the team reach a 4-1 record during that span.
After a three-game losing streak in which the team had inconsistent post scoring, coach Brenda Frese placed Jones in the starting lineup for the Terps’ matchup at Syracuse on Feb. 2. Jones has kept that spot since, averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in her starts.
“She gives us a legitimate inside post scoring threat,” Frese said. “As she continues to gain experience and confidence, I think you’re going to continue to see our team grow. Love that move that we’ve made, it has really made us a better team.”
The Terps won each of the four games Jones started and scored at least 10 points. Before she began anchoring the Terps’ inside unit on offense, however, she had to slim down her 6-foot-3 frame during the offseason to withstand the physical demands of the college game.
Jones has lost 30 pounds since joining the team, and she noticed the difference in her play instantly. Her improved fitness has helped her run the floor during fast breaks and outmuscle opposing post players for rebounds and layups.
“I just feel like I’ve gotten stronger, like physically stronger,” Jones said. “I can move faster than I could before, and I think it’s just all going to keep working its way.”
Shedding weight has also helped her remain effective with her increased workload. Jones played at least 15 minutes in each of her starts, a mark she reached seven times in her first 20 games coming off the bench.
“We know that she’s going to stay consistent,” center Alicia DeVaughn said. “She’s like our second double-digit scorer, so it’s something we know and guarantee from her.”
Jones scored only seven points during the Terps’ 84-63 loss at Duke on Monday, though, which broke her four-game double-digit scoring streak. The Blue Devils outscored the Terps in the paint, 38-26.
The Terps’ struggles inside spread to the rest of the offense, as they rely on post players’ effectiveness to free up space for three-point shooters. Though the Terps did manufacture some open looks against Duke, they shot 5-of-21 from three-point range, as the Blue Devils were still able to close out on outside shots.
“I thought it really hurt us, obviously, against Duke,” Frese said. “We got to be able to rely consistently on a post presence for all of it to work together.”
Jones is a key part of that now, thanks to her recent play. Her contributions inside have helped her become a mainstay in the starting rotation, and earning that role after an ACL tear has provided additional motivation.
“It just makes me want to work harder and play harder just so I can help my team win,” Jones said. “It was definitely a confidence booster knowing that my hard work has been paying off and I can help my team.”
