Guard Brene Moseley helped energize a comeback against Texas A&M on Sunday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she should start tonight against Notre Dame.

As her team snuck past the defending national champions with another impressive second-half comeback this weekend, Brenda Frese stumbled into a dilemma few would have foreseen before this season’s start.

Anjale Barrett, the Terrapins women’s basketball team’s seasoned senior point guard, struggled to do anything positive early in Sunday’s 81-74 Sweet 16 win over No. 3 seed Texas A&M. So Frese, naturally, turned to the bench in search of help.

For a second straight game, Frese found her answer: freshman Brene Moseley.

With solid defense and a spark in transition, Moseley helped the No. 2 seed Terps erase Aggies leads of 18 and 11 points to move on to their first Elite Eight since 2009.

Her seven points and six assists in 28 minutes Sunday – compared to Barrett’s scoreless, 12-minute performance – now has many wondering if it’s time for Frese to make a change as the Terps head into tonight’s matchup with No. 1 seed Notre Dame.

For those of you pushing for that, pump the brakes. Actually, mash the brake pedal to the floor.

Yes, Moseley’s been the real deal in the Terps’ victories over Texas A&M and Louisville.

Sure, Barrett’s struggled in each of those games, piling up more turnovers (six) than points (five).

But this team already has an ACC Championship under its belt. It’s won 10 straight, including three in the NCAA Tournament. Not exactly the best time to rock the boat.

Barrett’s started every game this season – and all but one last season – averaging nearly five assists a game and quarterbacking the team’s half-court offense.

Moseley hasn’t started a game since her junior year in high school, having missed her senior season with a knee injury.

Barrett’s been a part of two ACC Championship teams and was on the bench when the Terps bowed out of the Elite Eight in 2009.

Moseley’s never been a part of a game of this magnitude.

See where I’m going? I don’t doubt Moseley’s abilities. She’s proved she has no fear of the big stage over the past week. In fact, she may even thrive on it.

But do you really want to mix up your rotation heading into one of the biggest games in recent program history?

If Frese were going to shuffle things on this team, don’t you think center Lynetta Kizer would be back where she once belonged – in the starting lineup – after her early-season suspension?

The Terps should ride what’s gotten them this far. And in this case, experience trumps youthful spark every single time.

Especially for a team that Frese knows to, above all else, play for each other.

“I do feel this group has all the intangibles to be able to win it all,” she said Sunday. “It’s a team that genuinely cares about each other, has each other’s back and is really selfless. They don’t care who receives the attention.”

To some, Frese’s comments afterward meant one thing: pencil Moseley in as a starter tonight.

Not to me. Moseley’s just what the Terps have needed of late, especially in Sunday’s comeback. Her speed, defense and shooting ability make her the perfect point guard for a team trying to cut into a lead. Frese knows it.

She also realizes that for every Moseley steal or assist this season, there’s been a youthful mistake or two.

Against Louisville, Moseley turned the ball over on consecutive possessions with forced passes into the paint. She negated a fast break with an unnecessarily fancy crossover.

In the final minute versus the Aggies, Moseley came up with a steal that helped the Terps seal the win, but only after she missed a fast-break layup that, well, would have really helped the Terps seal the win.

Even her most iconic moment of March Madness so far – her shot-clock-beating leaner from the free-throw line to give the Terps their first lead since the game’s first bucket with 4:07 to play – showed some inexperience. She was only there, forced to take the circus shot, after the possession had been bungled in the first place.

This isn’t meant to take anything away from Moseley’s recent performance. And I’m certainly not arguing that Barrett shouldn’t have a short leash tonight if her struggles continue.

But the Elite Eight isn’t the time to blow things up and go with the hot hand.

Go with Barrett. The Terps will play for her. She’s earned the benefit of the doubt despite a couple of forgettable performances.

Moseley shouldn’t get too comfortable on the bench, though.

cwalsh@umdbk.com