Women's basketball leaves road test with pair of convincing wins

The biggest challenge the Terrapin women's basketball team faced in this weekend's East Carolina Thanksgiving Tournament was not on the court. The Terps knew they had the talent to top East Carolina and Massachusetts, and the results didn't dispute that.

The real test, particularly for the team's six freshmen, was adjusting to the distractions of life on the road, as the tournament marked the first time the No. 23 Terps had to leave the comforts of home for a game. The team traveled to Georgetown for a local showdown two weeks ago, but a throng of Terp fans kept it from feeling like a true road game.

Against the Pirates and Minutewomen, though, the Terps thrived in a venue far removed from Comcast Center.

"I think any time you can go on the road and pick up two wins, you're happy," coach Brenda Frese said. "There was a lot of time in the hotel and all those different obstacles you have to deal with, and I thought we handled it well."

The Terps' depth proved particularly valuable this weekend, as the team was able to avoid a lull against Massachusetts on Saturday despite having topped East Carolina, 76-60, less than 24 hours before.

The Terps (5-1) got points from 10 players en route to a dominant 82-50 victory.

"It really prepared our young players, who were going through it the first time with the back-to-backs. I thought that was really beneficial because we were fatigued," Frese said. "Sometimes, when you're in tournaments, you have to generate your own energy."

Freshman forward Alyssa Thomas continued what has been a torrid start to her Terp career with a combined 29 points and 11 rebounds in the two victories. Her 12 points per game lead the team.

With Thomas' help and major contributions from centers Lynetta Kizer and Alicia DeVaughn and forwards Diandra Tchatchouang and Tianna Hawkins, the Terps continued their dominance in the paint. The team nearly doubled both opponents in rebounds and pulled down an impressive 29 offensive rebounds against the Pirates.

That authority down low was key against the host Pirates, whose unrelenting press forced the Terps into 26 turnovers.

"Obviously, I think early on we didn't handle [East Carolina's pressure] well, but as the game wore on, we got much better with it," Frese said. "What we really did well is dominate the glass."

Frese added the contrasting styles presented by their two opponents in Greenville, N.C. — the Pirates' press and the Minutewomen's zone — gave the Terps a chance to see which player combinations jell in different situations.

Their search for an outside shooting game will also continue, as the Terps shot just 16 percent from behind the arc over the course of the two games.

But while there were speed bumps during the tournament, the overall gain appears positive.

"We definitely got better," Frese said. "The exciting thing is that if people scouted us right now, I don't think they can tell you who are best five are. Hopefully, that'll pay dividends."

cwalsh@umdbk.com