Catch up on some takeaways from the victory.
Maryland women’s basketball wrapped up nonconference play Wednesday with a comfortable 78-55 victory over James Madison, the Terps’ seventh win in a row.
Led by a stellar performance from Shyanne Sellers, Maryland never trailed in the final 30 minutes.
Here are some takeaways from the win.
Shyanne Sellers did it all
In an afternoon when Maryland fielded only 10 players, Sellers stepped up in just about every possible way.
She served as the driving force behind the Terps’ offense, primarily adopting a scoring role rather than that of a playmaker. She still had six assists, though
During the first half, she notched an incredible 20 points, accounting for seven of Maryland’s 14 made field goals.
Additionally, she stood as the sole Terp to sink a 3-pointer in the opening half, securing three of them.
Sellers also displayed versatility beyond just scoring, utilizing her leverage, length, balance, and an extensive repertoire of moves to find consistent success.
During the second half, Sellers contributed nine more points, standing out for her knack in drawing fouls around the basket. She made eight out of nine free throws.
With Big Ten play looming, witnessing Sellers continue to play at an elite level should be a reassuring sight for Maryland fans.
“She’s so talented,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “I think what separates her is she can play both ends of the floor. Every time we challenge her on something, she takes it to heart and gets better and I think that’s why she’s just scratching the surface.”
Maryland’s defense was opportunistic
While Maryland’s defense wasn’t notably dominant, evidenced by it losing the rebound battle, 50-44, and conceding 15 second chance points, the Terps stepped up by making timely stops and converting turnovers into momentum-shifting runs.
At pivotal junctures, the Terps effectively shut down the Dukes’ scoring for extended periods — holding the Dukes scoreless for over four minutes to close the third quarter and nearly three minutes to seal the game.
Whenever James Madison threatened to narrow the score within 10 points, Maryland consistently tightened their defense.
Cal Tobias/Testudo Times
Another impressive facet of the Terps’ defensive performance was their seamless transition between man-to-man and zone coverage, causing occasional confusion for James Madison’s offensive strategy.
This resulted in a substantial 21 turnovers forced on the Dukes, which Maryland turned into 22 points.
A shorthanded roster delivered
Facing a blend of sickness and injuries affecting the locker room, Frese only had 10 players at her disposal, and only three played over 30 minutes.
Despite that, the Terps seemed to get better as the game went on, playing with a strict cohesiveness throughout.
Although only two players reached double-digit points, Maryland benefited from diverse contributions across the roster.
Freshman Summer Bostock, whose playing time has been limited this season, emerged as a pivotal force late in the third quarter and early in the fourth
Additionally, despite a modest scoring contribution, Riley Nelson showcased her athleticism throughout the game, securing four rebounds and tying for the team’s highest plus/minus at +19.
“[We were] missing players that you usually have in the lineup, so then you have to work through those different combinations,” Frese said. “So I thought we adjusted and got better as the game went on. I think that’s a rhythm [thing].”