Maryland women?s basketball coach Brenda Frese tempered her post-game remarks by stressing how pleased she is to be 20-1 following Sunday?s 83-60 victory over Wake Forest.
However, Frese added that does not diminish her team?s need to improve defensively if it hopes to knock off No. 2 North Carolina next Sunday and hopefully repeat as national champions.
When Wake Forest shot 45.2 percent from the field in a second half that included the Demon Deacons connecting on six of 10 three-point attempts, it caused Frese some concern.
“Today, I liked where we were on the defensive side in the first half,” Frese said. “That is an area we have been trying to improve. In the second half, we definitely had our lapses and lost some concentration. The biggest thing is just to keep our focus and intensity for 40 minutes.”
Marissa Coleman led Maryland with 21 points and six rebounds and Ashleigh Newman came off the bench to score 20 points as the Terps won their second game in three days.
Kristi Toliver had 10 points, five assists and five rebounds and Shay Doron also scored 10 for Maryland (20-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Maryland entered the game having defeated Virginia, 95-68, Friday.
“I thought Ashleigh did a tremendous job and played with a lot of poise today,” Frese said. “It was nice to be so unselfish again on the offensive end.”
Yolanda Lavender led Wake Forest (8-11, 0-6) with 22 points, while Alex Tchangoue finished with 20. Still, overall it was a miserable shooting game for the Demon Deacons, as Lavender and Tchangoue shot a combined 12-for-43 from the field.
The Demon Deacons, who shot 18.1 percent from the field in the first half and 31.1 percent for the game, have lost nine straight after boasting a seven-game winning streak earlier this season.
“This afternoon wasn?t that good, but the evening was OK,” Wake Forest coach Mike Petersen said. “I thought we played pretty good in the second half. Our want-to is really good and we?ve executed getting really good shots, but you?ve got to make them. At the end of the day … One of the reasons Maryland is such a good team is because they make open shots.”
Extra, extra
» Maryland junior forward Crystal Langhorne scored seven points Sunday, marking the first time since Jan. 2, 2006 (a span of 44 games) she failed to score at least 10 points.
» The Terps have won 19 straight home games ? and 20 games for the third straight year.
» Four Maryland players scored at least 10 points Sunday, marking the 17th time in 20 games the Terps have accomplished that feat.
