Box Score WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Consider Purdue coach Sharon Versyp convinced about where No. 8 Maryland should be slotted in the upcoming NCAA tournament after her team suffered the largest home loss to a Big Ten team in school history.
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"They should be a No. 1 seed," Versyp said after her Boilermakers lost 88-59 on Thursday.
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The Terrapins (18-2, 14-1 Big Ten), who routed Purdue by 37 points on Jan. 10, moved one game closer to a third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title with their seventh consecutive victory.
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Maryland coach
Brenda Frese says her players are just focused on playing well each game after improving to 14-2 in all-time series against the Boilermakers.
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"That (seeding) will take care of itself," Frese said.
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That said, freshman
Angel Reese wasn't shy about the ultimate goal after leading the Terps with 17 points and nine rebounds.
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"Our main goal is to win a national championship," Reese said.The catalyst was playing in just her second game since being sidelined by a broken foot.
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"This team has been rolling without me," Reese said. "Whatever I have to do to help this team win, I'm willing to do."
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Purdue's Brooke Moore, who had 13 points, summed up the Terps succinctly: "That team is really good."
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Maryland owned this one in every aspect. The Terps dominated the boards 50-26, including 26-8 in the second half. The visitors also enjoyed a 52-28 scoring edge in the paint, as well as 17-7 in fast-break points.
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"Road wins are precious," Frese said. "I thought we played hard. The effort was there."
Maryland needed about one quarter to start pulling away as Reese hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 16-9 lead after the first quarter. The Terps have just 10 players on the roster, but all eight who played early contributed scores for a 44-26 halftime lead. The margin increased to 64-41 after three quarters.
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Mimi Collins and
Ashley Owusu also had 13 points apiece.
Faith Masonius had 10 points and eight rebounds.
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Purdue (6-14, 3-13) lost its eighth consecutive game.
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Maryland is 106-13 (.891) in Big Ten play over the last seven seasons.
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Next, Maryland is scheduled to play at Northwestern (13-5, 11-5) Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. The Terps-Wildcats matchup will be televised on ESPN2.
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