Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
College Park, MD-
The key to winning games for the Lady Terps has been giving Brionna Jones the ball, well today was nothing short of that against New Mexico State in the first round of the Womens NCAA Tournament at the Xfinty Center.
Jones had 22 points and 12 rebounds as top-seeded Maryland cruised to a 75-57 victory Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA women’s tournament.
Brianna Freeman scored 15 and Sasha Weber added 14 for the Aggies (22-8), who were making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1988. The Western Athletic Conference champions were out-rebounded 45-20 and went 5 for 21 from 3-point range.
“If we could have knocked down a few more of those open shots,” New Mexico State Head Coach Mark Trakh said, “it might have been a closer game.”
For the Terps, a strong match-up against an undefeated Princeton team on Monday will be the best test of the season for the Terps considering that they have not lost a game since December 3rd and the Tigers have yet to lose on the season, coming into today’s game against Green Bay a perfect 30-0.
“You can’t have 20 turnovers against Princeton,” coach Brenda Frese said. “You’ve got to be able to value possessions.”
The Terrapins improved to 26-9 in the NCAA Tournament under Frese, including 13-2 in games at home. … Maryland’s previous longest winning streak, 24 in a row, bridged the 2005-06 championship season and the following campaign. … The Terrapins have won at least one postseason game (NCAA or WNIT) in each of the last 11 years. … Maryland is now 28-0 when leading at halftime.
