Spartans fall to top-ranked Maryland, 92-57 in Terrapin Classic

COLLEGE PARK, MD - Defending national champion Maryland had six players in doubles figures as the top-ranked Terrapins defeated UNC Greensboro 92-57 Friday night at the Comcast Center.

UNCG (6-5) was led by senior guard Jasmine Byrd who had 15 points on 6-of 19 shooting. The Spartans next leading scorer was senior forward KaLeah Latham who had nine points. Latham and Meghan Chamberlain had four rebounds each.  Byrd also added four steals.

Kristi Tolivar led Maryland (14-0) with a game-high 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting, all from behind the arc. She was also 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

“I was very proud of the effort tonight,” head coach Lynne Agee said. “This game for us was about composure and ball control. We didn’t do a great job in the first half but we we’re able to control the ball better in the second half and were able to make some big shots. Playing the No. 1 team in the country you’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place but I was proud of the way that everyone stepped up and contributed tonight. ”

UNCG continued the 8-2 run they used to close the first half to open the second half behind a quick steal and layup by Jasmine Bryd, cutting the Maryland lead to 16.  Spartan seniors Byrd and Latham kept the Spartans in the game early in the second stanza, scoring UNCG’s first 10 points of the half to cut the lead to 38-55 at the 15:36 mark.

The teams continued to trade buckets throughout the half and UNCG was able to cut the Maryland lead to 16 points, but couldn’t stop Maryland’s offense as the Terrapins picked up their 14th consecutive victory.

The Spartans shot 23-of-64 from the floor, good for 35.9 percent and shot 23.1 percent from behind the arc.

UNCG started the game strong, winning the tip and taking an early three-point lead with a bucket by Irene Otamiri on the first possession. Maryland got on the board behind free thows by Shay Doron to cut the Spartan lead to one in the games early goings.

The Spartans capitalized on several Maryland miscues and took a 13-12 lead at the 13:11 mark but three unanswered buckets gave the Terps a six point lead with just over 10 minutes left in the half. UNCG was able to gain some momentum when Kristen Brooks took a charge at mid-court and Otamiri was able to cut the Maryland lead to four with a jumper in the lane midway through the half.

Maryland went on a 14-8 run to close the half, while UNCG closed with three unanswered buckets as Maryland took the 48-25 halftime lead.

UNCG shot 11-of-13 in the first half, good for 35.5 percent and forced 12 turnovers, while Maryland out-rebounded the Spartans 21-10, through the first stanza.

The Spartans will take on Liberty, a loser to Marist on Friday, on Saturday at 3:30 pm in their final game of the Terrapin Classic.

AGATE
#1/1 MARYLAND 92, UNC GREENSBORO 57

UNC GREENSBORO (6-5)
Byrd, Jasmine 6-19 0-0--15; Latham, Kaleah 4-6 0-0--9; Otamiri, Irene 3-4 0-0--8; Dixon, Jasmine 2-8 2-2-- 7; Grimsley, Gini 3-8 0-0--7; Boone, Kristen 2-10 1-2--5; Chamberlain, Meghan 2-5 0-0--4; Brooks, Kemena 1-2 0-1--2; Frazier, Brittany 0-1 0-0--0; Ling, Ashley 0-0 0-0--0; Hyson, Lakiah 0-1 0-0--0. Totals--23-64 3-5--57.

#1/1 MARYLAND (14-0)
Toliver, Kristi 4-6 4-4--16; Wiley-Gatewood,Sa'de 3-5 6-6--15; Coleman, Marissa 6-8 0-0--13; Langhorne, Crystal 3-7 5-6--11; Newman, Ashleigh 4-6 0-0--11;Doron, Shay 3-6 4-4--10; Perry, Jade 2-3 3-3--7; Harper, Laura 1-4 2-2--4;Marrone, Christie 1-2 0-0--3; Noirez, Aurelie 1-2 0-0--2. Totals 28-49 24-25-- 92.

Halfime Score: Maryland 48-25. 3-point goals--UNC Greensboro 8-24 (Byrd, Jasmine 3-11; Otamiri, Irene 2-3; Dixon, Jasmine 1-1; Latham, Kaleah 1-2; Grimsley, Gini 1-4; Brooks, Kemena 0-1; Boone, Kristen 0-2), #1/1 Maryland 12-21 (Toliver, Kristi 4-6; Newman, Ashleigh 3-4; Wiley-Gatewood,Sa'de 3-5; Coleman, Marissa 1-3; Marrone, Christie 1-2; Doron, Shay 0-1). Fouled out--UNC Greensboro-None, #1/1 Maryland-None. Rebounds--UNC Greensboro 19 (Latham, Kaleah 4; Chamberlain,Meghan 4), #1/1 Maryland 45 (Coleman, Marissa 9). Assists--UNC Greensboro 12 (Boone, Kristen 5), #1/1 Maryland 23 (Toliver, Kristi 7). Total fouls—UNC Greensboro 19, #1/1 Maryland 15. Technical fouls--UNC Greensboro-None, #1/1 Maryland-None. A-7633

- UNCG -