STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – No. 14 Maryland closed 2020 with a 96-82 victory at Penn State Thursday afternoon. Sophomore Ashley Owusu led Maryland with a career-high 34 points and eight rebounds.
 
Sophomore Diamond Miller added 17 points, senior Chloe Bibby added 13 and sophomore Faith Masonius added 11.

Maryland (6-1, 2-0 B1G) and Penn State (3-3, 0-2) both needed to shake off the rust, shooting below 30 percent from the field through the first 10 minutes. Owusu poured in 18 of her 32 points in the first half.
 
"Just really, really proud of our effort and enthusiasm that we played with today," head coach Brenda Frese said. "You saw we had to shake off some rust with the great break we had at Christmas, as well as not playing a game in 12 days. It was something I was kind of expecting. I loved our effort and energy. When they made runs on us, it never fazed us. We were able to keep making plays for each other.
 
"Ashley just picked up where she left off with JMU. She was so aggressive and set the tone for us on both ends of the floor. We were able to feed off of her."
 
Owusu started off strong from the tip, scoring six points to lead the Terrapins to a 16-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. Owusu continued with the hot hand in the second quarter, adding 12 points in the period as the Terps built their lead to 48-39 at halftime.
 
The Terrapins scored 24 points off 19 Lady Lions turnovers. Maryland shot 59 percent (19-for-34) from the floor in the second half.
 
Owusu went 15-for-22 from the floor and added two steals, a block and an assist. Her previous career high was 25 points, which she scored earlier this month vs. Towson. Owusu's 34 points are the most scored by a Terrapin sophomore since Crystal Langhorne scored 34 vs. Baylor in 2006.
 
Maryland owns the series over Penn State, 17-14, and has won nine straight matchups since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15.
 
The Terrapins will host No. 20 Indiana (4-2, 2-0) Monday at 7 p.m. at the XFINITY Center. The Terps-Hoosiers matchup will be televised around the world on ESPN2.
 
The season will begin with no fans in attendance at XFINITY Center out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our student-athletes and fans. Maryland athletics is hopeful that some fans will be welcomed to XFINITY Center as the season progresses and health conditions permit. 
 
As a result, Maryland is proud to announce a new initiative called the Maryland Basketball Virtual Sellout, which will give fans the opportunity to purchase a seat, row, section or courtside seat at XFINITY Center while providing exclusive commemorative items and access. The goal is to sell all 17,950 seats at XFINITY Center.
 
Virtual ticket options range from $10 to $1,000. There is also an option to purchase the opportunity to have "XFINITY Center To Yourself" for $17,950 and watch an away basketball game this season with up to 10 friends and/or family members. If interested in purchasing the XFINITY Center to Yourself package, please contact the Terrapin Ticket Office at 301-314-7070 or 800-IM-A-TERP.
 
Each virtual ticket offers a variety of commemorative items, with every option offering the opportunity to win an Exclusive Gameday Experience at a home game during the 2021-22 season. To secure your virtual spot in XFINITY Center, click here.
 
Maryland Athletics is also excited to offer Terrapin Cutouts for the 2020-21 men's and women's basketball seasons. For as low as $55, you can send us an image of yourself, your friend, relative, or even a pet showing their Maryland pride, and be part of gameday at XFINITY Center!
 
To purchase your Terrapin Cutout, click here.