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UCLA Improves to 20-0 as Terps Struggle in 82-67 Loss

Saylor Poffenbarger Led the Way for the Terps with 18 Points, But It was Not Enough to Stop #1 UCLA from Going to 20-0 on the Season for the First time in Program History.

Story By: Erin Zollars

Photos By: Sol Tucker

College Park, MD–

Despite playing shorthanded again, the #8 Terps Women’s basketball team gave #1 UCLA a close battle for most of the first half, then after the half, the size and speed of the Bruins was just too much to keep them to improving to 20-0 on the season in an 82-67 loss.

The Bruins improved to 8-0 in the Big Ten have won their last 19 games by double figures and are 20-0 for the first time in program history. This has a lot to do with the presence of Lauren Betts and he ability to get into the paint and score at will.

Betts was dominating again today dropping a career high 33 points, 24 of those came before the half. Betts shot 14 of 15, a school-record 93.3% with a minimum of 15 attempts. That surpassed the 88.9% Denise Curry shot against Louisiana State in 1979. Betts added seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Against Baylor on Jan. 20, Betts had a school-record nine blocks.

Maryland continued to struggle to find that offensive balance without their leader Shyanne Seller, who now has missed her second straight game with a knee injury.

For the Terps their best shot at offense in the second half came from Saylor Poffenbarger.  She led the Terps with 18 points, shooting 8 for 16 from the field.

After the game Terps Head Coach Brenda Frese was asked about her offensive struggles late in game, but how intense the game was overall.

“I just want to thank our fans for coming out,” Frese said. “I thought the crowd was amazing. I think you were able to see UCLA is number one in the country for a reason.  Probably the biggest size and depth that we have faced all season. I thought we were right there at halftime ”

Maryland has lost 10 consecutive games against top-ranked opponents since defeating North Carolina in the 2006 NCAA semifinals on the way to its only national title.

 

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