Maryland?s women?s basketball coach Brenda Frese is always happy with a win. But Maryland did enough things wrong in its Atlantic Coast Conference-opening 80-61 win over N.C. State Wednesday to give Frese plenty to harp on during practice.
While five Maryland players scored in double figures, the top-ranked Terps (16-0, 1-0) got out-rebounded for the first time this season and shot just 68.8 percent from the free-throw line.
“I?m very pleased and proud to be able to come out and get our first ACC win,” Frese said. “I thought the first half we came out with great intensity on the defensive end, were really focused and really executed on the offensive end. I thought we were extremely unselfish being able to move the ball and get some wide-open looks. But again, we want to continue to keep improving, play a 40-minute game, while keeping our focus and attention into the second half.”
Maryland forward Laura Harper led all scorers with 17 points, while center Crystal Langhorne and guard Shay Doron scored 15 points each. Junior forward Khadijah Whittington led N.C. State with 12 points and 15 rebounds. The Wolfpack (11-4, 0-1) out-rebounded the Terps, 43-35.
Doron said if Maryland wants to win the ACC tournament and repeat as national champions, the team needs to be more consistent. Maryland shot 50 percent and led, 46-20, at halftime against N.C. State. The Wolfpack then played better over the final 20 minutes and actually outscored the Terps, 41-34.
“In the first half, we came out with some passion and a lot of energy,” Doron said. “We ?re kind of disappointed in the second half because it felt like another one of those games. But we have to pull it together. We don?t have many games until the NCAAs, so we have to play 40 minutes no matter whom we?re playing against.”
Harper said after the game that playing against N.C. State was much different than any other game so far this season as Maryland looks to win its first conference title since 1989.
“Just starting the ACC is definitely a milestone for us,” Harper said. “It just gets us into another gear. It?s exciting to get ready to know what?s to come. It just puts everything into perspective.”
MARYLAND NOTES
» The Terps? 16-0 start equals the best in school history, set in 1982-83.
» Maryland, winners of 22 straight, has the longest current winning streak in the country. The streak dates back to the first round of last year?s NCAA tournament.
» Maryland coach Brenda Frese has now won 100 games in CollegePark since arriving in 2002. Including stints at Ball State and Minnesota, she has 157 career wins.
