Maryland?s top-ranked women?s basketball team owns the nation?s longest winning streak, is beating opponents by an average of 25 points a game and, at 8-0, is off to its best start in 15 years following Wednesday?s 68-49 win at Marshall.
However, coach Brenda Frese wants to see her squad play more efficiently as it returns home Saturday to host UC-Santa Barbara before Sienna comes to College Park Monday. Frese is concerned about Maryland?s streaky ball-handling, which has led to at least 20 turnovers in four of the last six games, including 21 at Marshall.
Still, Frese said she is pleased with the overall play of the team, which is in the middle of a stretch of nine games in 12 days. On Thanksgiving weekend, Maryland routed Mississippi, 110-79, to win the Junkanoo Jam tournament in the Bahamas.
“That was probably the best overall game we?ve had so far this year,” Frese said. “Everyone really understands their role on this team. But there is still room for improvement, especially when it comes to our turnover ratio.”
Balance remains the key for Maryland, which has won 14 straight games dating back to last season. So far this year, four Terps are averaging double figures in scoring, while the team is scoring nearly 84 points per game. Maryland is shooting 50 percent from the field, out-rebounding opponents by about 16 a game and holding teams to a .350 field-goal percentage.
No Maryland player is on the court more than 29 minutes a night, including forward Crystal Langhorne, who registered her fifth double-double in eight games and the 38th of her career after finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds at Marshall.
With all of the contributions Maryland is getting ? six different players have led the team in scoring ? Frese singled out guard Shay Doron and center Laura Harper earlier this week as two players who have improved greatly in recent weeks.
Doron has scored 35 points and dished out 14 assists over her last two games, while Harper had 19 points and seven rebounds against Mississippi.
“Shay is just taking a lot of good shots right now, and Laura is playing with a lot of confidence on the court,” Frese said.
MARYLAND NOTES
» Terps guard Shay Doron, who had 12 points and seven assists at Marshall, now has 1,600 career points and is one behind Jessie Hicks for fourth on Maryland?s all-time scoring list.
» Crystal Langhorne and Doron both have 514 career field goals made, which is good for 14th on Maryland?s all-time list.
» The Terps retained the top spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the fourth consecutive week.
