Maryland coach Brenda Frese is reluctant to admit it, but she has to notice how her team is climbing in the rankings.
The Terrapins have already jumped one spot in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll (ninth) and one spot in the AP Top 25 (10th).
Anyone sleeping on Maryland before the season might find this a good time to open their eyes. The Terps demolished the Towson Tigers 82-46 on Wednesday night at Comcast Center to improve to 3-0.
“We had an inside game against [then-No. 10] Georgetown and we showed our outside game tonight with our guard play,” Frese said. “I thought we did a tremendous job being unselfish, moving the basketball, stepping up and making big shots. It was a tremendous overall win tonight.”
Freshman Brene Moseley led all scorers with 26 points on a blistering 10-of-15 shooting —- 4-for-6 from 3-point range —- in 27 minutes of playing time.
“I just took what they were giving me,” Moseley said quietly, as if unaccustomed to being in the spotlight. “They left me open, so I just had the opportunity to knock it down.
Before the season began, Frese said she was looking for a scoring point guard. Moseley also had 17 in her collegiate debut.
“She was extremely patient, we moved the ball extremely well. She gives us another dimension,” Frese said. “For a freshman to come in and play with that kind of poise and confidence, it just makes us better as a team.”
Even without senior center Lynetta Kizer, who remains on indefinite suspension, the Terps are rolling with the leadership of two other seniors, guards Anjale Barrett and Kim Rodgers. Although they both say they refuse to look too far ahead, nothing less than a deep run in the NCAA Tournament will do.
“I’m not thinking about it [the NCAA tournament]. I’m just having fun out there,” Barrett said. “Three games in, I’m looking forward to everyday I have on the court with this team. I’m not really thinking about the tournament. I’m just having fun.”
Rodgers said she’s planning to enjoy every moment of her senior experience.
“Every game your last year is just as exciting as your last few games are going to be. I’m just treating it like that,” Rodgers said.
Even with the three blowout wins, Frese sees room for improvement, such as cutting down on turnovers. The Terps turned the ball over 18 times against the Tigers, and had 16 against the Hoyas.
“We’ve got to clean [that] up,” Frese said. “Luckily, we have plenty of games to do that. We have to get ourselves prepared for a new dynamic, which is going on the road for the first time. But I like going out being 3-0.”
The Terps’ next game is at UMBC on Nov. 19.
• Carla Peay can be reached at cpeay@washingtontimes.com.
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