For the few fans who stayed at Comcast Center yesterday after the Terrapin men’s basketball game to watch the women’s team play Monmouth, there must have been a feeling of deja vu.
Like their male counterparts, the No. 19-ranked Terp women sped to an early lead and routed the Hawks, 81-49, in front of 2,729 spectators.
The Terps (7-1) opened the game with an 8-0 run, keeping Monmouth (4-4) off the scoreboard for more than three minutes.
Hawk forward Niamh Dwyer kept her team in the game with 10 first-half points, including a three-pointer that brought Monmouth within three at one point.
But the Terps went on a 15-0 run over a seven-minute span – highlighted by sophomore guard Kalika France’s back-to-back baseline three-pointers and pulled away for good.
The Terps allowed just 16 points in the first half and forced 17 turnovers.
“I thought the first half we played close to as good of defense as we’ve played all season long,” coach Brenda Frese said.
Shay Doron led the Terps on both ends of the floor, notching a game-high 20 points and seven steals.
Early in the game, Doron found creases in the Hawk defense, which was more concerned with guarding its basket.
“In the first half we really wanted to make sure the two post players, Harper and Langhorne, really didn’t hurt us,” Monmouth coach Jackie Devane said. “We knew [Doron] was going to get hers, and we wanted to make sure that the other post people didn’t.”
Freshman guard Ashleigh Newman was also effective on the perimeter. Playing 22 minutes, she matched a career-high 11 points, shooting 5-5 from the floor.
“Coach [Frese] has been on my case for the past week about how I need to step up more and be more part of the team and not think that I’m a role player,” Newman said of her increased role.
Fellow freshman Crystal Langhorne also added 11 points in just 15 minutes.
While Frese wasn’t pleased with the team’s defense after the break, the Terps maintained a lead of at least 20 points throughout the ugly second stanza.
The team had just four points off turnovers in the second half, after scoring 22 in the first.
All 12 Terps saw at least three minutes of action, scored a basket and grabbed two rebounds or more.
“It’s exciting to be able to have everyone on our roster to be able to contribute in a game like this,” Frese said.
Dwyer finished with 17 points and five rebounds but turned the ball over six times.
The Terps return to action after exams for a Dec. 20 match-up with local rival Coppin State.
“I think this break is going to be good for all of us,” Doron said. “We’re together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. … It gets tough, and I think the mental break is going to be key.