{"id":111829,"date":"2018-12-29T15:03:25","date_gmt":"2018-12-29T12:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ww-vb.mine.nu\/w108\/maryland-women-stifle-penn-state-late-in-big-ten-opener\/"},"modified":"2018-12-29T15:03:25","modified_gmt":"2018-12-29T12:03:25","slug":"maryland-women-stifle-penn-state-late-in-big-ten-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hameed.nwar.uk\/sa\/maryland-women-stifle-penn-state-late-in-big-ten-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland women stifle Penn State late in Big Ten opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cI thought it was a wake-up call for us. You see what conference play looks like,\u201d Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said Friday. Maryland beat Penn State, 77-61. (John Beale\/AP)<\/span> <\/div>\n
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<\/a> <\/div>\n

Ava Wallace<\/a> <\/p>\n

Reporter covering local colleges and universities<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

December 28 at 11:02 PM<\/span> <\/div>\n

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. \u2014<\/span> The Maryland women\u2019s basketball team learned Friday night that, even if you\u2019re ranked No.\u00a04 in the country, it doesn\u2019t make you immune from the perils of an extended holiday break. <\/p>\n

But in their Big Ten opener, the Terrapins also reminded a conference foe just how stingy their defense can be. After three quarters of sluggishness that saw Penn State take a one-point lead into the final period, the Terps unleashed 10 minutes of lockdown defense to pull away for a 77-61 victory on the road.<\/p>\n

Maryland held the Nittany Lions\u2019 efficient offense to just four points in the fourth quarter at Bryce Jordan Center, the third time this season it has held an opponent to four points or fewer for an entire period.<\/p>\n

Maryland\u2019s ninth-ranked scoring defense accomplished the feat against Coppin State in the season opener and against George Washington early in November, but Penn State was different. The Terps controlled those two nonconference games from the opening tip. On Friday, Maryland needed to flip a switch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was a wake-up call for us. You see what conference play looks like,\u201d Coach Brenda Frese said.<\/p>\n

When asked whether the problem through the first three quarters was shaking off rust from an eight-day break between games or new issues cropping up, Frese said it was a blend of both.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not exactly in that rhythm two days of practice \u00adcoming back off the break, first Big Ten game for your two freshmen, what that looks like \u2014 the level of physicality is a lot greater because you can be matched athletically as well as physically,\u201d Frese said. \u201cOur vets did a tremendous job helping us weather the course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maryland (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) trailed 57-56 heading into the fourth quarter, primarily because of subpar defense, a few careless but critical turnovers and Penn State guard Teniya Page\u2019s 22\u00a0points.<\/p>\n

Page, a senior, led the Nittany Lions with 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting, including a trio of three-pointers. Penn State sophomore Kamaria McDaniel had 16 points off the bench as the Nittany Lions\u2019 offense made key plays through three periods. But Page made just one field goal and McDaniel was held scoreless in the final period.<\/p>\n

The Nittany Lions\u2019 final field goal \u2014 a jumper from Amari Carter \u2014 came with 8:49 left to play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was getting to my spots and shooting the ball confidently. In the fourth quarter, I kind of went away from that,\u201d Page said. \u201cI started rushing things and trying to get to the basket instead of taking a dribble to gather myself and try to finish. I was falling and tripping over my own feet and sometimes theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forward Stephanie Jones and wing Kaila Charles led the charge defensively. The veterans started pressuring the ball in the fourth quarter and played with more energy. Jones, who guarded Page for much of the second half, focused more on boxing out in the post and stepping to a teammate to be a second defender.<\/p>\n

Penn State (7-5, 0-1) had just five of its 23 points in the paint in the second half. Those defensive stops also allowed Maryland to play at the quick pace the team prefers and find a rhythm in transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnergy is important, especially when we\u2019re not at home,\u201d Charles said. \u201c.\u2009.\u2009. We just huddled up and were like: \u2018You know, we\u2019re a little flat; we\u2019re giving them the confidence. Let\u2019s just come together.\u2019 .\u2009.\u2009. We were able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles led the Terps with 23\u00a0points, 16 of which came in the second half, and Jones added 17\u00a0points. While the veterans led the way, Maryland\u2019s freshmen did their jobs as well: Taylor Mikesell had 13 points, and center Shakira Austin had a team-high 11 rebounds.<\/p>\n

The win was Maryland\u2019s sixth straight against Penn State; the Terps haven\u2019t lost to the Nittany Lions since 2003, and they haven\u2019t lost their Big Ten opener since they joined the league five seasons ago. Maryland continues Big Ten play at home Monday against \u00adRutgers.<\/p>\n<\/article><\/div>\n