UMD guard Chloe Pavlech searches the court for a teammate to inbound the ball to during Maryland’s 94-50 win against American University on Dec. 12, 2014 at the Xfinity Center.
Playing time hasn’t been easy to come by for Terrapins women’s basketball guard Chloe Pavlech this season. So yesterday the junior sat down with coach Brenda Frese to let her know she was willing to do whatever the team needed her to do.
When the Terps found themselves in an early 8-2 hole Thursday night against Purdue, Frese needed Pavlech to provide a boost of energy off the bench.
Pavlech knocked down her first three shots of the contest for nine first-half points to help the Terps take a lead they would never relinquish in an eventual 88-64 win over Purdue at Xfinity Center.
Playing behind one the country’s top point guards, Lexie Brown, Pavlech entered Thursday bout averaging less than 13 minutes per game and just six minutes per game in conference play. But with the starters struggling, she got an early opportunity against the Boilermakers (9-6, 2-2 Big Ten).
“I felt like in that moment we were really struggling offensively, and we couldn’t get stops on defense,” Pavlech said. “I just knew we sort of needed a spark.”
With the Terps (12-2, 3-0) down 12-11, the Ohio native carried the ball up the floor and pulled up for a 3-pointer in transition. Pavlech, who had just 25 points on the season and hadn’t scored in conference play, watched her shot sail through the hoop to give the Terps the lead.
From there the Terps received a host of contributions to balloon the lead to 45-26 entering the break. Center Brionna Jones led the way with one of her best games in a Terps uniform.
“They had no answer for her,” Frese said.
The 6-foot-3 sophomore went 8-for-13 from the floor for 16 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Jones grabbed nine offensive rebounds and keyed 21 second-chance points for Frese’s squad.
“I just tried to get on the glass and get second opportunities for my team,” Jones said.
The Terps’ stifling defense, which held Purdue to two made field goals in the final 8:38 of the first half, and Jones’ rebounding helped the Terps play by that philosophy.
The Terps outrebounded the Boilermakers, 49-28, on the night and forced 15 turnovers in their commanding victory. Their defensive success allowed them to control the tempo of the game.
“We had some really good possessions when you talk about being able to get on the glass and really get out in our transition,” Frese said.
The Terps weren’t able to carry their late first-half success into the second half, though. The final period started in similar fashion to the first with Purdue jumping on the Terps with an 8-0 run.
“I was obviously a little disappointed in us with our starts to begin the game and the second half,” Frese said.
Guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough prevented a Purdue comeback, however. Walker-Kimbrough scored 10 of the Terps’ first 12 points after the break and finished with a team-high 18 points and three steals.
With the help of Walker-Kimbrough, the Terps weathered the hot-start by the Boilermakers just like in the first half with Pavlech.
Their contributions helped keep the Terps undefeated in conference play entering a tough road matchup with No. 23 Minnesota on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t want to be a team in any other position,” Frese said.
