Nov. 28, 2008
Box Score
Photo Gallery
Playing perhaps its most complete game of the season, the Maryland women's basketball team ran Illinois out of the gym in the final game of the Cancun Caribbean Challenge, taking a 79-52 decision. Led by Marissa Coleman's 17 points, Maryland employed a run-and-gun pace which thwarted the Illinois defense and frustrated them offensively.
Maryland (6-1) knew that they would have to step up their offensive prowess in order to take down Illinois, which was looking to play a low-scoring game while running things through their star center, Jenna Smith. Right from the tip, the Terrapins controlled tempo as they barely paused to set up an offense, scoring transition basket after easy transition basket to build up a 16-point halftime lead.
Junior Demauria Liles was an early catalyst for Maryland, grabbing seven early rebounds to help prevent Illinois from gaining second chances and eating up more clock. While Liles was grabbing the ball, senior Kristi Toliver was providing the offense, hitting on two of her first three shots from downtown on her way to 11 first-half points.
Toliver finished with 15, one of four Terps in double figures. She also dished out five assists and pulled down four boards.
Nothing changed for the Terps coming out of the intermission, and Maryland put the game away quickly. After allowing Illinois the first two points of the period, freshman Lynetta Kizer and senior Marissa Coleman helped the Terps to an 11-0 run. The lead hovered between 25 and 30 points for much of the remainder of the contest.
Coleman, who finished just a rebound shy of a double-double, has been the only Terp to score in double figures in each of the team's first seven games.
With the game already firmly in hand, Maryland wore down the Illini in the second half. The Terps continued to pressure the Illinois defense, forcing them into several fouls. Maryland shot 22-of-26 from the free throw line, allowing the Illini to get there just nine times, converting on three shots.
Sophomore Drey Mingo made the most of her game-best eight trips to the free throw line, going 8-for-8 en route to 11 points. The total was a season-high for Mingo, who has played key minutes off the bench in the post for a young Terps team.
Maryland will now have a little time to relax. The team returns to College Park on Sunday morning, and will get back to work on Thursday when they visit Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tip off of that game is set for 6:30 p.m., with coverage on WMUCSports.com.
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