Hurricanes hand women's basketball tough loss, 83-75

The Terrapin women's basketball team entered last night's game at Miami with a containment plan.

The No. 12 Terps knew they wouldn't be able to shut down the Hurricanes' explosive backcourt of Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams, the ACC's two most prolific scorers. Instead, they sought to disrupt the tandem's scoring and keep the rest of the Hurricanes from beating them.

Unfortunately for the Terps, they could do neither. While Johnson scored a game-high 30 points and Williams had 16, forward Morgan Stroman added 20 points, nine rebounds and five steals to snap the Terps' seven-game winning streak, 83-75.

"I'm disappointed defensively," Frese said. "We talked about their big three, and I didn't think we really did anything to [disrupt] them."

The No. 20 Hurricanes (21-3, 7-2 ACC) pulled away from the Terps slowly throughout the first half, exploiting what has been a weakness for the Terps all season — turnovers. The Terps turned the ball over 20 times in the first half, allowing Miami to build up a 45-31 lead at halftime.

But the Terps soon adjusted, using their size advantage in the post to slowly cut into the Hurricanes' lead. A 6-0 run late in the second half brought the Terps to within two points of Miami with just 2:43 left in regulation.

Miami matched the Terps' surge, though, keeping any comeback hopes at bay. Ultimately, the Terps hopes at bay. Ultimately, the Terps (20-4, 6-3) were unable to regain the lead they held for only two minutes all game.

"Credit to Miami's defense," Frese said. "They tripped us up. But we just didn't make good decisions with the basketball and we didn't use our advantage by pounding the glass enough."

In all, the Terps' advantage down low didn't prove sizable enough to combat Miami's powerful backcourt. While center Lynetta Kizer (15 points, 11 rebounds) and forward Tianna Hawkins (12 points, 10 rebounds) did their part to help lead the Terps' charge, their efforts ultimately proved futile.

A Hurricane defense that lived up to its ball-hawking reputation certainly didn't help matters. The team, which entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in steals, piled up 10 steals in the first half to help secure the program's 22nd consecutive home victory.

"Twenty first-half turnovers," Frese said. "They were pressing, they just set us up and they were aggressive."

Guard Anjale Barrett proved a steadying force for the young Terps. Early foul trouble often forced some of the team's young, inexperienced players into pressure-filled roles against the Hurricanes. But when Barrett stepped in after limited first-half playing time, things calmed down for the Terps, who slowly climbed back into the game.

"Anjale did a really nice job of controlling tempo and slowing herself down," Frese said of the junior, who finished with 10 points and eight assists. "Then everybody collected themselves."

Ultimately, the Terps' second-half surge fell short. For a second straight game, an early deficit necessitated a late comeback. Against NC State on Sunday, the Terps scrapped together a dominant stretch of play late for an eventual blowout victory. Against the Hurricanes, there was too much to overcome and too little time to do it.

"Just a tough road loss," Frese said. "Anytime you go on the road you face a lot of adversity, and against a very good Miami team we didn't play with a lot of poise and composure in the first half."

cwalsh@umdbk.com