On a Terrapin women’s basketball team with plenty of superstars, senior forward Jade Perry doesn’t always get a lot of public recognition.
So when Perry was voted to the Preseason WNIT All-Tournament team Sunday after the No. 3 Terps beat No. 4 LSU 75-62 to win the tournament championship, it was a big moment for her.
“That felt pretty good,” Perry said. “I got a little teary-eyed because that’s my first-ever college award.”
Perry was a productive member of the Terps’ rotation the past three seasons, but starting in place of All-American senior center Crystal Langhorne, who has missed four of the Terps’ first five games this season nursing a sprained ankle, Perry has taken things to a different level.
Perry finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds against the Tigers and All-American senior center Sylvia Fowles on Sunday to earn her third double-double of the season.
She is one of the main reasons the Terps have looked so impressive so far even without Langhorne, their leading scorer the past two seasons.
“Jade’s playing inspired basketball,” senior forward Laura Harper said.
Perry is listed generously at 6-foot-1-inch, and is shorter than most of the opposing forwards and centers she has faced this season.
But Perry is incredibly strong in the low post and has used her strength and positioning to grab a team-leading 9.8 rebounds per game.
She is also fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.6 points per game.
“She’s using her strength to her advantage,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “Where she used to see her [height] as a limitation, she’s now seeing her strength and her power and how many positives there are to it.”
Perry’s style is significantly different than Langhorne’s, whose offensive game is centered on attacking the rim with agility and footwork.
But Perry has been just as effective in giving the Terps another reliable scoring option besides Harper in the low post.
“Jade brings a complete other versatility to our post with the strength that she has and the fact that she’s undersized but still makes moves versus [opponents who are] 6[-foot-]6[-inches] and up,” Harper said. “I know Jade’s going to bring energy every single game.”
Perry will likely go back to coming in off the bench once Langhorne returns.
She thrived in that role last season, when she averaged 5.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and Perry said she just wants to do what’s best for the team.
“It really doesn’t matter all,” Perry said. “Coming off the bench, I was a tremendous spark, and that’s always a thrill. I’m just going out there to help my team as much as possible.”
Langhorne is still experiencing soreness in her ankle and is considered day-to-day as she has been for the past few weeks.
She will likely miss the Terps’ game tonight against Loyola (Maryland).
“We’re waiting to make sure she’s completely 100 percent healthy,” Frese said. “I think we’ll be smart with that.”
While the Terps have looked incredible without Langhorne, it’s hard not to think about their potential once she returns.
Until then, Perry and the Terps have things under control.
“When Crystal comes back, she’ll be just fine,” Harper said. “She’ll step right in and the flow will keep going.”
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