The Maryland women’s basketball team has said for months it felt its development was ahead of schedule.
Sure, half the team had never stepped on the floor for Maryland before this season, but coach Brenda Frese’s squad welcomed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. Plus, the players had gelled in practices and games during a trip to Italy this summer.
Still, until Saturday’s game against Washington State,the team hadn’t faced much pressure. Maryland won each of its first five games by at least 30 points.
The Cougars, though, stayed with the Terps for 40 minutes. Maryland’s freshmen responded with poise and maturity, leading the Terps’ efforts down the stretch in the 79-69 win.
“You learn a lot about your freshmen in those close situations,” Frese said. “These guys love big moments.”
Freshman Kaila Charles started at guard in the Terps’ first six games, and has experience in the spotlight. She finished her senior year at Riverdale Baptist School playing in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago and the Dick’s High School National Championship game in Madison Square Garden.
But those outings, she said, couldn’t fully prepare her for the college game.
“The college atmosphere, everything is faster, harder,” Charles said. “It’s still a shock coming in.”
Charles appeared comfortable against the Cougars. She scored 15 of her career-best 19 points in the second half, collected five rebounds and had four steals.
The second-half breakout helped lift the Terps (6-0), who entered halftime tied with the Cougars.
“The confidence and energy she played with — she was fearless,” Frese said. “She was a huge energy player for us and really made some big plays.”
Frese said some of Charles’ success came from the game’s physical style and referees who “allowed both teams to play.” Foul trouble kept Charles on the bench in previous games, Frese said, but Saturday Charles could be aggressive. She drew a foul early in the first quarter against the Cougars but avoided committing another until the final minutes.
“I had to make sure I was focused,” Charles said. “I was just trying to help my team, whether that was rebounding or defense or even scoring.”
The Glenn Dale native left some points on the foul line, making three of her attempts, but the rest of the team, including two other freshmen, picked up the slack as the game wound down.
The Terps made 15 of their 19 free throws in the fourth quarter, and rookie guards Destiny Slocum and Blair Watson shot 5-for-6 and 3-for-4 from the line, respectively.
Frese said the team emphasized foul shooting after disappointing results in its preseason exhibitions. It paid off against the Cougars, as Charles and Frese said the team’s foul shots were “huge” parts of the win. Senior center Brionna Jones had perhaps the biggest contribution of any Terp on Sunday, leading the team with 20 points and 20 rebounds, but of the seven Maryland players who scored, four are freshmen.
Those contributions from newcomers not only helped the Terps overcome Washington State, but also bode well for the team’s future, Frese said.
“They’ve presented that way with just how consistent they’ve been,” Frese said. “But obviously there’s the question mark, the unknown when you get into a close game. It’s very encouraging to see that consistency factor follow through onto the game floor.”
