By Gillian Vesely

With personal record nights from both sophomore guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and junior center Malina Howard, the Terrapins women’s basketball team was able to top the University of South Florida Bulls, 85-67, on Wednesday night.

Walker-Kimbrough, who opened the game with a three-pointer, proved to be assertive on both ends of the floor. She would go on to contribute in many different areas of the game, providing a game-high and new career high 25 points alongside five rebounds, three steals, an assist, and a powerful block that closed out the first half in an exclamation mark fashion.

The Terps used strong traps and double-teams on defense to force the Bulls into six turnovers in the first half, which were converted into six points on Maryland’s offensive end.

“This might be one of our best defensive teams I’ve ever coached,” head coach Brenda Frese said after the game.

Howard also looked solid; picking up seven of her game-high 11 boards in the first half, en route to her first career double-double.

“Having great teammates behind me helps me a lot,” Howard said.

The Terps took a little longer to heat up in the second half, allowing the Bulls to come within 12 before Frese called at timeout with 10:58 to go in the game. But after two field goals from Walker-Kimbrough, one from redshirt senior guard Laurin Mincy, and a pair of threes from freshman guard Kristen Confroy, the Terps’ lead had stretched back out to 22.

Although they turned the ball over nine times in the second half, the Terps were able to hold off the Bulls by shooting 50% overall from the field and out-rebounding South Florida 40-33 in total.

Maryland looks to continue its aggressive play when it takes on George Washington on Saturday, November 22.