After Maryland women’s basketball’s Kaylene Smikle scored 21 points on an efficient 75 percent shooting in a blowout win over Towson — her fourth straight game with at least 20 points — the Rutgers transfer said consistency is something she takes pride in.
The stretch tied the longest such streak of Smikle’s career. She extended it one week later.
The junior continued her red-hot scoring output on Sunday with 25 points to lead the Terps to a dominant 72-point win over Saint Francis.
“I’m not surprised in the sense of who she is and her abilities, because I was able to watch that when she was at Rutgers,” coach Brenda Frese said. “Where I’m most surprised is just how quickly it’s all come together.”
Smikle has excelled for Maryland early this season despite not practicing with the team this summer, Frese said. She was only cleared to play about three to four weeks ago, according to Frese.
Smikle poured in 15 first quarter points against the Red Flash, accounting for half of Maryland’s first 30 points. She single-handedly scored five times as much as Saint Francis’ entire first quarter team total.
The guard’s chemistry with the rest of the Terps was especially apparent late in the first quarter.
[No. 11 Maryland women’s basketball dominates Saint Francis, 107-35, continues undefeated start]
Smikle streaked down the sideline immediately after redshirt junior guard Saylor Poffenbarger blocked a shot. Poffenbarger, leading a fastbreak chance, sent a quick outlet pass to senior guard Shyanne Sellers.
Sellers ran toward the left corner in one fluid motion, waving off a Saint Francis defender while delivering a blind through-the-legs pass to her target. A wide open Smikle 3-pointer followed.
Maryland scored 32 of its points off turnovers and totaled 25 fastbreak points on Sunday.
“That’s Maryland basketball,” Smikle said. “We want to turn teams over and want to play aggressive from the jump.”
Smikle has attempted 70 shots this season, 14 more than the next closest Terp. Even with the high volume, she’s second on the team in field goal percentage at 54.3 percent.
The former All-Big Ten second team honoree has shown efficiency both in and outside the three-point arc.
Smikle has shot 60 percent or better from beyond the arc in each of her last five games. She leads the Terps in both total points and 3-pointers, and her 68.2 three-point percentage ranks second in the country.
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Frese knows the offensive firepower Maryland holds with Smikle in the rotation. The veteran coach’s next goal is to transition Smikle into a full-time dual-threat player on both sides of the ball.
“What I love about [Smikle] now is I’m really challenging her to also do other things,” Frese said. “Defensively, to get there for us … we know she’s a dynamic scorer, but now we can add those other things to her game.”
Smikle has had strong moments defensively this season. She’s notched 10 steals through six games, including three in Sunday’s game. Both marks serve as team-highs for Maryland this season.
Smikle started the year slow with a mere seven-point outing in her first game as a Terp. She’s starred in every outing since then, settling in perfectly with her new role at an elite program.
“I’m extremely proud to be a Terp,” Smikle said. “This is where I wanted to do it.”
