FAIRFAX, VA – No. 17 Maryland's newcomers keyed the Terps' 14th consecutive season-opening win as they dispatched George Mason, 88-51, at EagleBank Arena on Monday night. New Terps accounted for 61 of the Terps' points.
In her first game as a Terp, returning home after an All-American career at Princeton, Abby Meyers tallied 19 points and corralled six rebounds. She connected on 5-of-6 from three-point range in her debut.
Freshman Bri McDaniel netted 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Lavender Briggs had nine points and eight rebounds.
Shyanne Sellers added 12 points and four rebounds. Preseason All-Big Ten honoree senior Diamond Miller scored 11 points before in 10 minutes before being sidelined with an injury.
The Terps were hot from downtown as they hit 12-of-22 for 57.1 percent while limiting the Patriots to just 5-of-22 from beyond the arc for 22.7 percent.
Brenda Frese's Take
"I was really pleased with our start. I thought our vets were able to jump out and set the tone. We were really, really aggressive defensively, just shared the basketball and got on the glass. I thought Lav, Abby, Diamond were all being really, really aggressive to get on the glass. And then we were able to extend. I thought our freshmen gave some really good minutes tonight. They really helped us and we have to be able to have those extended minutes from our group. A terrific response and I thought we played hard for 40 minutes."
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland scored the first 10 points of the game as Meyers and Miller scored five apiece to get the season started. Miller scored 11 points in the first quarter as the Terps took a 20-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.
- The Terps expanded their lead at the half to 39-17 thanks to a 15-0 run midway through the second quarter on four three-points in a row by Bri McDaniel, Meyers, Pinzan and Meyers again. Meyers and Miller combined for 24 points to lead the way. Maryland held George Mason to just 6-of-28 shooting (21.4%) and forced 10 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
- Briggs turned it on in the third quarter after being held without a point in the first half. She scored her first nine points as a Terp in the third quarter. The Terps led 63-34 after three.
- Maryland outscored the Patriots 25-17 in the fourth for the win.
For Openers
- The Terps are now 45-7 all-time in season openers, having won the last 14 in a row.
- The win streak of 14 season-opening wins in a row is the longest in program history. Maryland won its first 12 season openers from when the program started in 1971-72 through 1982-83.
Double-Figures Factors
- In her first game as a Terp, Meyers scored in double-figures for the 53rd time in his career with 19 points.
- McDaniel tallied 13 points in sher debut.
- Sellers' 14 points were her 14th career game in double-figures.
- Miller (11 points) scored in double-figures for the 56th time in her career in just her 84th game. She's scored 10 or more in 67 percent of her games as a Terp.
New Faces
- Seven Terps made their Maryland debuts on Monday night with Briggs, Meyers and Elisa Pinzan (five points) drawing starts.
- Freshmen McDaniel and Gia Cooke (five points) were among the first subs off the bench. Also seeing action were fellow freshmen Ava Sciolla and Mila Reynolds (three points).
Notes and Nuggets
- Over the last four seasons, the Terps are 70-3 when they score 80 points or more.
- In allowed just 51 points in the season opener, its was the fewest allowed since Coppin State was held to 36 in 93-36 victory to open the 2018-19 season.
1,000-Point Update
- Miller is 37th in career scoring at Maryland as she now has 1,046 in her career. She is closing in on No. 35 Carla Holmes (1,052) and No. 36 Brene Moseley (1,048). Ahead of them on the list at No. 34 is Jane Zivalich, who scored 1,113 from 1976-79.
- Meyers is closing in on 1,000 points as she now has 966 with the first 947 coming at Princeton.
- Also nearing the 1,000-point plateau is Lavender Briggs with 970. She netted 961 at Florida.
- Elisa Pinzan is also chasing 1,000 points as she has 921 with 916 coming at South Florida.
Series History
- Maryland is now a perfect 7-0 in the series with George Mason with a 4-0 mark on the road.
- This was the frst matchup between the two squads since 2012. Maryland won 90-40 in College Park on Dec. 8, 2012.
Up Next
- Maryland hosts its 2022-23 home opener against No. 1 and defending National Champion South Carolina on Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m., in a game that will air on ESPN2.
