Maryland women’s basketball guard Bri McDaniel started the fastbreak. She dribbled up the court as Saylor Poffenbarger positioned herself beyond the 3-point arc.
McDaniel hit her fellow guard with a chest pass. Poffenbarger jumped and drained a 3-pointer late in the third quarter, her fourth of the contest against Towson on Sunday.
The Terps knocked down 11 3-pointers in the 35-point victory, their highest total through five games this season. The hot shooting performance showcased a different dimension of Maryland’s offense — it has the size to take advantage of some teams in the paint, but the Terps can also rack up points from deep.
Towson coach Laura Harper said the Tigers wanted to limit Maryland’s paint points while allowing them to take outside shots.
“We said, ‘If they were going to beat us they were going to have to make 15 threes,’” Harper said. “I didn’t want them to get so close to 15 … Every single time they got an open shot it felt like it went in.”
The Terps shot nearly 65 percent from behind the arc and missed just six attempts, creating a barrage of 3-pointers through quick passes and player movement.
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McDaniel hit Maryland’s first 3-pointer in the opening three minutes. Guard Sarah Te-Biasu lofted a pass inside to forward Allie Kubek. The graduate student sent the ball to Poffenbarger.
The redshirt junior drove into the paint, causing three Towson defenders to collapse onto her. Poffenbarger kicked it out to an open Kubek and then Te-Biasu. They swung the ball to McDaniel in the corner who made a 3-pointer.
Similar touches down low created space for Poffenbarger’s first of the day.
Te-Biasu fired an entry pass into guard Kaylene Smikle. The junior, with her back to the basket, didn’t attempt to dribble toward the rim.
She immediately threw a pass to the corner for Poffenbarger, who rose to make Maryland’s third 3-pointer in a two minute span during the first period.
“I think it flows,” Poffenbarger said. “We have really good ball movement, so we’re getting open shots and I think when we moved out the ball, or we penetrate dribble drive, we’re getting that best shot.”
The Terps’ exceptional start from deep is another aspect of an offense that’s improved from last season. Maryland finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 36 percent success rate from 3-point range, but are hitting on 46 percent so far this year.
Poffenbarger, Te-Biasu and Smikle are currently pacing the Terps from deep. The trio has 31 of Maryland’s 37 made triples thus far.
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Te-Biasu and Smikle have career 3-point shooting averages of more than 35 percent. Poffenbarger shot a career high 32.9 percent last season at Arkansas, and Smikle is currently one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, connecting on 12-of-17 attempts.
The Terps’ outside shooting excelled against Towson, but they still had a presence close to the basket. They snagged 14 offensive rebounds and racked up a season-high 52 points in the paint.
Guard Mir McLean corralled an offensive rebound, one of Maryland’s last of the game, and immediately looked for a feed to a teammate. She found Smikle at the top of the key, who stepped into a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.
The Terps showcased their ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Maryland’s offensive diversity will provide a variety of scoring options as the season progresses.
“In the five games we’ve played, just different combinations, different ways for us to be able to win,” coach Brenda Frese said. “Just want to continue to keep building on this.”
