For the second time in as many weeks, Maryland women’s basketball forward Shakira Austin was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday.
Austin averaged nine points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in a pair of road wins, the second an 85-61 victory over No. 10 South Carolina.
Against the Gamecocks, the 6-foot-5 freshman tallied 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, and she secured a game-high 16 boards to anchor No. 9 Maryland’s frontline. The Terps held South Carolina to just 35.6 percent shooting, and with Austin in the middle of the defense, they have held opponents to just 30.2 percent so far this season.
After stumbling out of the gate to trail the Gamecocks 18-6 in the first quarter, Maryland went on a 26-1 run to grab control of the game.
And as South Carolina attempted to mount a comeback in the third quarter, Austin’s ability to box out and end possessions after just one shot was crucial for the Terps. When the final buzzer sounded, they finished with a 53-29 rebounding edge.
Through Austin’s first four games at Maryland, the Fredericksburg, Virginia, native has averaged 11 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks a game. She ranks first in the conference in blocks per game and second in rebounds per contest so far this year.
At times, Austin has struggled to finish at the rim. The freshman has shot just 47.2 percent from the field, a low mark for a player that primarily finishes in the post. However, as she continues to develop, that may not be a problem for long once the McDonald’s All-American settles in the offense.
