Barrett offers women's basketball a helping hand

At first glance, Anjale Barrett had little to do with the Terrapins women's basketball team's offensive fireworks in Miami last weekend.

As her teammates combined to score 194 points in two victories at the Florida International Thanksgiving Classic, the point guard was kept mostly quiet, finishing with just four points on 1-for-4 shooting.

But as her teammates scored and scored, she facilitated. Barrett racked up 21 assists over the holiday weekend, finishing each of the team's two wins in double digits while committing just two turnovers.

Barrett might not be a go-to scorer. But when the No. 6 Terps host Michigan tonight in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the senior will surely be the one quarterbacking the team's potent attack.

"If they're going to keep giving my teammates open looks, I'm going to give it to them," Barrett said. "This weekend I just pushed in transition and everybody ran. When they're running, I'm happy and they're happy."

The team clearly benefited from Barrett's efforts, as at least four Terps (7-0) notched double-figure point totals in both games. In the team's Saturday outing against CSU Bakersfield, Barrett tied a career high with 11 assists. Six of her teammates scored more than 10 points, helping the Terps post their best single-game scoring mark in nearly six years.

"Anjale was tremendous. She controlled the tempo of both games," coach Brenda Frese said after Saturday's 114-83 win over the Roadrunners. "She's playing at an all-time high, controlling the game, setting us up for great shots; that's what a really solid point guard does."

Continued stability from Barrett at point guard will be key tonight for the Terps, who face a Michigan (7-0) team that ranks 25th in the nation in scoring defense. The Wolverines have allowed just 51 points per game so far this season, offering the Terps their toughest offensive challenge to date.

"It's who imposes their will on the other in this type of game," Frese said. "In a game where you could limit possessions, you have to take care of the basketball. Our assist-to-turnover ratio will be really important."

"We got to take care of the ball, get stops and get out in transition," Barrett said. "Value the ball, value possessions on offense, get good looks and not force too many things. We know that their defense is pretty good."

Tonight's game will mark the first time in program history the Terps have played the Wolverines. And with a few perfect records on the line, something has to give.

"Two undefeated opponents, neither team has lost in the [Big Ten/ACC] Challenge," Frese said. "This is what it's all about: playing great competition."

vitale@umdbk.com