Various injuries have limited the point guard position for Maryland women’s basketball early this season. With Addi Mack and Lea Bartelme out for the Terps’ Thursday night matchup against Bethune-Cookman, coach Brenda Frese experimented.
Frese used 11 players against the Wildcats, with 10 of them playing at least 15 minutes, to fuel a 95-49 win at Xfinity Center and extend the Terps’ season-opening win streak to six games.
Bethune-Cookman traveled out of Florida for the first time to play the Terps. Entering with a 1-3 record and three blowout losses to UCF, Miami and FIU, the Wildcats put up just 16 points in the first half.
Kyndal Walker made her first collegiate start on Thursday. The redshirt freshman played 31 minutes and scored a career-high 13 points. She added four assists and two rebounds.
“Kyndal did a phenomenal job,” Frese said. “That’s what we know she’s capable of doing, and did a great job overseeing the team.”
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Walker’s performance inspired her teammates. Injured star Bri McDaniel charged off the sideline, eyes locked in on Walker. Seconds before the third quarter buzzer, Walker laced a driving layup, and the bench exploded. McDaniel found Walker among the crowd to give her a chest bump.
“They’ve been keeping me uplifted this whole time,” Walker said. “Bri is one of our leaders on the team. She’s always looking out for me, so I’m happy to have her in my corner.”
Walker started in place of Mack, who manned the point guard spot and played the majority of the game against Princeton. Mack, who won National Freshman of the Week on Tuesday, missed the game with ankle soreness.
Mack was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the first Terp to earn the honor since Shyanne Sellers in 2021. On Tuesday, she was named Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Week by the USBWA.
Bartelme, a Slovenian freshman, started the season at point guard. Bartelme tore her ACL a week ago in a matchup against Towson. She is out for the remainder of the season. Frese started her for the first four games, during which she put up 27 total points and averaged 20 minutes.
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Walker earned 13 minutes in the first half. The 5-foot-9 guard notched three assists and four points in the period.
The Terps put the Wildcats in a 30-point hole midway through the third and never looked back. Maryland’s offense used a balanced attack, with Kaylene Smikle, Yarden Garzon, Breanna Williams, Okananwa and Walker each notching between 12 and 13 points.
“I think it’s just a big part of just being ready when your number is called,” Williams said. “I trust my teammates, and they were able to help me get to that.”
Smikle made her first start of the season in her second appearance back from a leg injury. The senior led the Terps in made field goals (6) but also in turnovers (4). Garzon tallied 12 points, matching her season-high.
Maryland’s intense press forced 26 turnovers. The Terps recorded seven first-half turnovers and 11 after the break, continuing a trend of uneven offensive play.
Frese played her reserves in the final 10 minutes, giving increased playing time to Ava McKennie, Breanna Williams, and Nicole Fritea.
“I love that everybody that got in was able to score and contribute,” Frese said. “It’s a coach’s dream to see every player score in your box score.”
