No. 5-seeded Maryland women’s basketball opened up the first round of the NCAA tournament with a dominant 32-point victory over No. 12-seeded Murray State. 

From start to finish, they held a promising lead and finished the game by winning 99-67. Here are three key takeaways from the win.

Mir McLean is a hidden gem for the Terps.

Despite limited playing time throughout the year, McLean has found herself in a pivotal role as the Terps continue to conclude their season. 

She has started in their last five games and with how she performed against Murray State, she will likely keep this starting role.

In the victory, she had 19 points, a season high, as well as 14 rebounds, also a season high, to finish the day with a double-double. Of those rebounds, nine of them came off the offensive glass and gave Maryland second-chance opportunities. 

“The mindset was just to have fun, not to put too much pressure on the game,” McLean said. “Knowing I am a senior and my season could end or my career could end at any night, just trying my best and trying to be the best version of myself.”

She has not only provided the Terps with more offensive opportunities but also has been instrumental in their defensive scheme.  

She has found herself playing big minutes guarding the opposing best paint players and finding immense success. 

Take Murray State’s Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, a player who has been a walking double-double all season. She was held to six points and seven rebounds before fouling out. Although this can not only be attributed to McLean’s contributions, her track record of doing the same thing shows that she will play a huge role in the Terps schemes moving forward. 

“That’s a senior who doesn’t want to be finished,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “Just did a tremendous job setting the tone.” 

Foul trouble continues to hurt the Terps

Playing a high-octane level of defense has gotten the Terps victories, but as of recently, it has gotten them into foul trouble as well. The win over the Racers proved this as multiple Terps racked up multiple fouls.

The most notable player was Oluchi Okananwa, who has been the motor behind Maryland’s offense. Okananwa only scored seven points for the game as a result of playing limited minutes, missing much of the first half. 

This is Okananwa’s third straight game with three or more fouls and it played a major factor in Maryland’s first-round loss in the Big Ten Tournament to Oregon. 

Saylor Poffenbarger and Izzy Ozzy-Momodu also got into foul trouble, with Poffenbarger finishing with three fouls and Ozzy-Momodu fouling out.

With the lead they had against a team like Murray State, Maryland was able to get away with this. 

As they move further into the tournament, though, and face tougher teams like North Carolina or UConn, this can prove to be a season-ending flaw, especially if it continues to affect Okananwa.

Defense and drive will get Maryland far. 

When they are not getting fouls called on them, the Terps defense is amongst the best, something that has rang true all season long.  

Maryland held Murray State’s bench scoreless the entire game. Although they allowed the Racers’ top scorer, Halli Poock, to finish with 27 points, she did so on poor efficiency, taking 24 shots to get there.

They also dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with 51 total rebounds to Murray State’s 21. 24 of these were offensive and kept plays alive, allowing the Terps to finish with 33 second-chance points. 

The whole team contributes to this, and they hold a strong next man up mentality. When Okananwa left the game due to foul trouble, Kyndal Walker slotted into her offensive engine role seamlessly, leading the team with 20 points. 

Everyone flies across the court every possession and hustle is akin to this Maryland team’s identity. It has carried them throughout the season and will continue to be crucial as the team continues onward in the NCAA Tournament. 

“I thought we got on the floor for a lot of loose balls,” Frese said. “Just who wants it more and who wants to advance.”

No. 5-seeded Maryland women’s basketball opened up the first round of the NCAA tournament with a dominant 32-point victory over No. 12-seeded Murray State. 

From start to finish, they held a promising lead and finished the game by winning 99-67. Here are three key takeaways from the win.

Mir McLean is a hidden gem for the Terps.

Despite limited playing time throughout the year, McLean has found herself in a pivotal role as the Terps continue to conclude their season. 

She has started in their last five games and with how she performed against Murray State, she will likely keep this starting role.

In the victory, she had 19 points, a season high, as well as 14 rebounds, also a season high, to finish the day with a double-double. Of those rebounds, nine of them came off the offensive glass and gave Maryland second-chance opportunities. 

“The mindset was just to have fun, not to put too much pressure on the game,” McLean said. “Knowing I am a senior and my season could end or my career could end at any night, just trying my best and trying to be the best version of myself.”

She has not only provided the Terps with more offensive opportunities but also has been instrumental in their defensive scheme.  

She has found herself playing big minutes guarding the opposing best paint players and finding immense success. 

Take Murray State’s Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, a player who has been a walking double-double all season. She was held to six points and seven rebounds before fouling out. Although this can not only be attributed to McLean’s contributions, her track record of doing the same thing shows that she will play a huge role in the Terps schemes moving forward. 

“That’s a senior who doesn’t want to be finished,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “Just did a tremendous job setting the tone.” 

Foul trouble continues to hurt the Terps

Playing a high-octane level of defense has gotten the Terps victories, but as of recently, it has gotten them into foul trouble as well. The win over the Racers proved this as multiple Terps racked up multiple fouls.

The most notable player was Oluchi Okananwa, who has been the motor behind Maryland’s offense. Okananwa only scored seven points for the game as a result of playing limited minutes, missing much of the first half. 

This is Okananwa’s third straight game with three or more fouls and it played a major factor in Maryland’s first-round loss in the Big Ten Tournament to Oregon. 

Saylor Poffenbarger and Izzy Ozzy-Momodu also got into foul trouble, with Poffenbarger finishing with three fouls and Ozzy-Momodu fouling out.

With the lead they had against a team like Murray State, Maryland was able to get away with this. 

As they move further into the tournament, though, and face tougher teams like North Carolina or UConn, this can prove to be a season-ending flaw, especially if it continues to affect Okananwa.

Defense and drive will get Maryland far. 

When they are not getting fouls called on them, the Terps defense is amongst the best, something that has rang true all season long.  

Maryland held Murray State’s bench scoreless the entire game. Although they allowed the Racers’ top scorer, Halli Poock, to finish with 27 points, she did so on poor efficiency, taking 24 shots to get there.

They also dominated the rebounding battle, finishing with 51 total rebounds to Murray State’s 21. 24 of these were offensive and kept plays alive, allowing the Terps to finish with 33 second-chance points. 

The whole team contributes to this, and they hold a strong next man up mentality. When Okananwa left the game due to foul trouble, Kyndal Walker slotted into her offensive engine role seamlessly, leading the team with 20 points. 

Everyone flies across the court every possession and hustle is akin to this Maryland team’s identity. It has carried them throughout the season and will continue to be crucial as the team continues onward in the NCAA Tournament. 

“I thought we got on the floor for a lot of loose balls,” Frese said. “Just who wants it more and who wants to advance.”