Forward Alyssa Thomas, center Alicia DeVaughn, and guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough react to a play during the Terps’ 93-44 victory over Delaware State on Dec. 14, 2013 at Comcast Center.
As Brenda Frese sat before media members during her postgame conference Saturday night, the Terrapins women’s basketball coach smiled as she looked toward the final box score.
The statistics showed the areas in which the No. 8 Terps overmatched Delaware State in their lopsided 93-44 win at Comcast Center, as the Terps’ advantages in depth and rebounding keyed their victory against the Hornets.
“I really like how we continue to get better,” Frese said. “To be able to see a box score like this, where everyone comes in and plays and contributes is really nice to be able to see.”
The Terps (10-1) had four players score in the double digits, but their performance on the boards — outrebounding Delaware State, 64-33 — helped them control the pace of the game.
Delaware State (3-5) struggled, shooting 15-of-62 from the field and recording 18 points in the paint.
Saturday’s matchup was the Terps’ last game before entering two-week break for finals and the holidays. The team has two more nonconference games left before starting ACC play against No. 15 North Carolina on Jan. 5.
The Terps’ contest against the Tar Heels marks the start of a tougher schedule, as three of the Terps’ six January games are against ranked competition. But the team won’t have to worry about preparing for that stretch until later in the month.
“To really be able to focus this next week just on the books and not have to worry about scouting reports and film and travel and all of that I think is key,” Frese said. “And then being able to get home for the holidays and shut it down mentally to have a little bit of that rest time is key for us before we come back and then get ready for conference play.”
The upcoming break didn’t affect the Terps’ play, however, as they had a 14-4 lead over the Hornets in the first three minutes, but forward Alyssa Thomas sat out for the rest of the half after she picked up two early fouls.
Delaware State cut the deficit to eight with 11:21 left in the half, But the Hornets offense eventually slowed down. With the Terps leading 24-16, Delaware State had six points for the rest of the half.
“I’m just trying to be positive,” Thomas said. “It sucks getting two fouls so early in the game, but all you can do is encourage your teammates and just have a positive attitude.”
The Terps gradually pulled away as the half continued. The team had 14 offensive rebounds for 17 second-chance points in the first half, which helped it gain a 45-22 lead entering halftime.
The team’s strength in the frontcourt helped it build on the lead, as it finished the game with 27 offensive boards. The Terps crowded the paint as shots went up, outnumbering the Hornets in the key during rebound opportunities. Guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough led the Terps guard unit in rebounds with seven, while also scoring 13 points.
“Now to really be able to see our guard play really be aggressive, and obviously when you see Shatori flying in there and what we’re able to get with our depth I think is key,” Frese said. “It gives you just so many more opportunities at the basket.”
The aggressive mentality helped the Terps get 30 second-chance points by the end of the game. Walker-Kimbrough added six points and four rebounds in the half, while Thomas made an instant impact upon her return in the second half, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 13 minutes of playing time.
“That’s one of the things we’ve been really been able to show,” Frese said. “What I love is when you have A.T. back in the lineup, she’s just a workhorse and works within everything else.”
Entering the team’s two-week break, the Terps used their large rotation to enhance their fast, physical style of play, which is how the team looks to perform as its competition gets tougher.
“That’s the type of team that we are,” Walker-Kimbrough said. “We have all the depth possible that a team could want, so we have something special.”
