Prior to its contest against Albany on Friday, the Maryland women’s basketball team received its Big Ten Championship rings from last season on the floor.
Freshman point guard Channise Lewis, who was a high school senior when the Terps won, looked on from the sidelines.
Though she wasn’t part of the celebration, Lewis came off the bench to knock down a 3-pointer and layup in quick succession in the second quarter. She played a large role during a spell in which the Terps outscored the Great Danes, 30-4. In her first game for Maryland, Lewis finished with 10 points and four assists.
As the only freshman on the roster and one of just two newcomers for the No. 15 Terps, Lewis impressed coach Brenda Frese with her composure.
“I thought Channise, coming in as a freshman, really handled the duties at the point,” Frese said. “She really played poised in her first game. A lot of great things for us to be able to build upon moving on.”
[Read more: Maryland women’s basketball kicks off the season with 91-58 romp over Albany]
Lewis made her Maryland debut in the first quarter, but it didn’t feel new for her.
Having been a part of the squad since the summer, when it represented America in the World University Games in Taiwan, the Miami native settled in long ago.
On Oct. 24 at the team’s media day, Lewis said she would probably be a little nervous when the season kicked off, though she asserted she was ready to go.
“I was just carrying that confidence from Taiwan over to the first game,” Lewis said, “which led me into the comfort.”
Lewis didn’t spark improvement in a sluggish opening 10 minutes. Going into the first break, the score was knotted at 14.
However, when the Terps came out firing in the second period, the nation’s No. 10 high school point guard in 2017 was an integral part of that success.
Guard Blair Watson kicked off a 25-0 run with a three-pointer early in the frame. With the Terps about halfway through the stretch at a 12-0 clip, Lewis took control.
After sinking a 3-pointer, Lewis turned her attention.
“Time to play defense and get a stop,” Lewis thought in that moment.
In tandem with that mentality, during the team’s 30-4 second quarter onslaught, Lewis chipped in eight points, including another triple. She was Maryland’s highest scorer during that stretch.
Frese wants Lewis to improve her scoring and increase the pace of ball movement.
But the Terps likely won’t have to worry about Lewis’ potential to grow. Her ability to adapt may be required again on Monday when the Terps host the reigning NCAA champions, No. 4 South Carolina.
“She carries herself with poise, and we can always look to her and have confidence in her bringing up the ball or whatever she’s doing,” Watson said, turning to Lewis and putting her hand on the freshman’s shoulder. “I’ve definitely got to thank you for that.”
