Brenda Frese rolled out the same starting lineup for all eight of No. 7 Maryland women’s basketball’s opening games — until Tuesday night.

The veteran coach moved Saylor Poffenbarger into the starting five for Christina Dalce ahead of the Terps’ 87-52 win over Mount St. Mary’s.

“She was giving the most effort,” Frese said. “Nothing’s set this season. We’re going to go with the players that are giving us the effort and the energy.”

Poffenbarger, making her first start at Maryland near the end of nonconference play, was the only player for either team to play the entire first quarter on Tuesday. The redshirt junior guard didn’t sit until nearly two minutes into the second quarter.

Poffenbarger scored just three points on 1-for-3 shooting in the 11-minute frame — eventually finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds, one of five Terps in double-figures.

But the Arkansas transfer’s early impact stretched beyond the stat sheet. She won the opening tip before logging back-to-back defensive rebounds and a pair of steals, which both led to Maryland 3-pointers.

[Maryland women’s basketball remains undefeated with 87-52 win over Mount St. Mary’s]

“Saylor, she works so hard, and it makes you want to work hard as well,” Dalce said. “She’s all over offensively and defensively, so she also brings a different kind of energy that we all truly need.”

Dalce first subbed in midway through the first quarter alongside Mir McLean and Bri McDaniel. Maryland had scored just one field goal through the opening four minutes and was tied at four apiece with the Mountaineers.

Frese was looking for an offensive jumpstart off the bench, and she found it in Dalce.

The senior forward spark-plugged the Terps’ frontcourt, making an impact seconds after checking in.

First, Dalce made two free throws and broke the tie to provide Maryland with its second lead of the game. She followed it with a transition layup on the Terps’ following possession.

“I just went in with an open mind of whatever happens tonight, it’s [for the] team at the end of the day,” Dalce said. “I’m glad I was able to perform the way I did.”

Dalce and Poffenbarger accounted for eight combined first-quarter points. The pair alone matched Mount St. Mary’s team total through the opening 10 minutes.

[No. 10 Maryland women’s basketball beats Toledo, 92-70, for first 8-0 start since 2018-19]

The first-quarter contributions were indicative of the early chemistry the two have built within Maryland’s system, regardless of who’s starting.

Mayland shot a lackluster 3-for-12 from beyond the arc on Tuesday. The Terps concentrated their scoring in the paint, racking up 54 paint points, considerably more than the Mountaineers’ game total of 52.

All five of Dalce’s baskets came in the paint. The Villanova transfer shot an efficient 83 percent from the field, finishing with a game-high 13 points despite coming off the bench.

“We have an inside post presence, and we definitely had the advantage tonight in that area,” Frese said. “When your three-point shot isn’t falling, you need to be able to get easier looks until your shot starts falling.”

Maryland’s experienced depth is a luxury, with flexibility in having seven starter-caliber players who understand their roles, Frese said.