The Maryland women?s basketball team boasts one of the most dangerous starting lineups in the country.
The combination of senior Shay Doron, juniors Crystal Langhorne and Laura Harper, and sophomores Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman entered Thursday night?s game at Clemson all averaging at least 11 points a game. It should be no surprise that all five are candidates for multiple national player of the year honors.
But Maryland coach Brenda Frese knows that she needs contributions from more than just her starting five for the team to make another run at the national championship. So far, a number of key reserves have come up with big games for the Terps when called upon.
Last Sunday, junior guard Ashleigh Newman came off the bench and scored 20 points in helping lead No. 3 Maryland (21-1, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) to an 83-60 victory over Wake Forest. Two days earlier, junior forward Jade Perry grabbed 10 rebounds in the Terps? 95-66 victory over Virginia.
“I loved to see the kind of floor game that Ashleigh had today,” Frese said following the Wake Forest win. “She made smart decisions. I already know that Ashleigh is one of the toughest defensive players we have out there. When she completes her game like she did tonight, she?s so much fun to watch on both sides of the court.”
Prior to Thursday?s 76-62 win at Clemson, Perry was averaging 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, while Newman is pitching in 8.5 points and four rebounds a contest.
“My main focus is coming off the bench and building the confidence of this team,” Newman said. “My main focus is defense, but when my offense is clicking, that?s a bonus to this team.”
Junior guard Sa?de Wiley-Gatewood has also provided a spark off the bench since the Tennessee transfer became eligible to play in December. She is averaging 9.2 points and 3.6 assists while also making more than 50 percent of her three-point attempts.
Frese said Wiley-Gatewood is expected to play a vital role in Sunday?s conference showdown against No. 3 North Carolina (22-0, 6-0).
“I?m excited because it seems like it?s a different person each game,” Frese said.
