No. 17-ranked Maryland women’s basketball won its 2022-23 season opener against George Mason at Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax, Va.

The Terps’ victory against the Patriots came in a game featuring a plethora of three-pointers. 

Overall, the Terps fired high numbers shooting 54.5% from beyond the arc. The Terps’ struggles behind the arc throughout exhibition games were nowhere to be found by Abby Meyers (5-6), Diamond Miller (1-2), Brianna McDaniel (2-3) and Lavender Briggs (1-2). 

“I just thought we were really aggressive,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “When different rotations happen, we were able to have great help side defense, and they protected each other and had each other’s back.”

Early in the game, Miller cashed a two-pointer, setting the tone and starting off a strong offensive night for the Terps. Miller left the court ten minutes in with an injury but was still the leading scorer in the first half with 11 points. 

Terp guards Lavender Briggs and Meyers showed that they are strong forces to be reckoned with. Briggs, a transfer from Florida, made noise early in the third quarter with nine points.

Meyers had done a bit of everything, from racking up five three-pointers and seven two-pointers. Meyers, a senior who transferred from Princeton, maintained a high point average of 19 against the Patriots, with support from her teammates on and off the bench. 

“I love being able to play for Maryland and have that across my chest,” Meyers said. “It’s good to know that my teammates have my back and that they know I can knock down those shots, and it just helps me make the next shot.”

Maryland’s leading scorers were Meyers with 19 points, Sellers (14), McDaniel (13), and Miller (11).

While the Terps dominated behind the 3-point line, the Patriots took advantage of open pockets under the basket with 55 attempted shots. 

The Patriots began to mount a second-half comeback, with guard Taylor Jameson scoring 15 points.

In the early stage of the third quarter, Patriots Jameson and Terp’s Briggs exchanged shots. But the Terps’ tenacity and height were no match for the home team by the end of the fourth quarter.

“I was sitting on the bench, and I was like, ‘I’m impressed with us,’” Meyers said. “Not knowing   in terms of expectations, how we would take the nerves and first game and all, but I think that everyone just really stepped up and set the tone for the season.” 

With Maryland’s last season leaders, Angel Reese and Ashley Owusu, no longer playing for the Terps, Frese had to adapt the lineup. The new captains also had to step up for the nine new Terp players. 

“She [Abby] has that calming confidence… and I just thought she did a phenomenal job, that she has done every single day that she’s put on the Maryland uniform,” Frese said. “Just leading and leading by example with everything that she does.” 

Maryland will face No. 1 South Carolina Friday, Nov. 11.