Women's basketball team outlasts Monarchs

The 2008 Terrapin women's basketball team will not be setting foot on the Comcast Center's floor any time soon.

With center Lynetta Kizer as the only returning starter for the No. 20 Terps in 2009,  it's a well-established fact that the this year's Terps are a completely different team than last year's Elite Eight squad.

But the Terps' victory last night over Old Dominion (0-2) at Comcast Center mirrored last year's meeting between the two teams, as the Terps had to work hard late to top the Monarchs, 84-67.

The Terps (3-0) appeared to be in the driver's seat, stretching a 13-point first half lead to 26 early in the second half.  The Monarchs clawed back, cutting the lead to eight with just over 10 minutes remaining.  Kizer's experience showed, as the sophomore's consistent play helped stifle the Monarchs' comeback attempt.  Kizer finished the game with a double-double, scoring 19 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Terps had a similar struggle against Old Dominion last season, though they had to fight back from a one-point deficit with just under four minutes remaining to put away the Monarchs 74-65.

"I'm really proud of the poise and composure that we kept in the second half," coach Brenda Frese said. 

Frese again lauded the play of her defense, crediting the team's ability to limit opportunities as a huge reason the Terps were able to overcome their troubles breaking the Monarchs' press.

Kizer credited her steady performance to advice given last season by graduated All-Americans Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman on how to deal with up-and-down games.        

Freshman Diandra Tchatchouang continued to perform well early on for the Terps, leading the team with 22 points.  She also showed her versatility, as the 6-foot-3 forward was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

Old Dominion guard Jasmine Parker made things difficult for the Terps all night.  Not only did she finish with a game-high 24 points, but she was a constant pest on the defensive end of the court.  Parker finished the game with three steals, but her feisty coverage of Terp freshman Dara Taylor played a big part in Taylor's nine turnovers. 

Tchatchouang's inexperience also showed at times, as she turned the ball over four times, including two traveling calls early in the first half.

Despite her turnovers, Taylor had another strong game for the Terps.  Her vision led to a number of easy Terp buckets.  Three minutes into the game, Taylor found Kizer under the basket with a one-handed pass through traffic for an easy two points. She had nine assists.

"We're going to see the press more often, so it's going to help [Taylor's] game immensely," Frese said.

Guard Lori Bjork, a transfer from Illinois, was able to steady the pace of the game while handling the ball against the Monarchs press defense and also contributed nine points, all from beyond the arc.

"I thought [Bjork] played a really solid game," Frese said.  "She really managed the game well.  She took good shots, put our team in positions to be successful, and that's what you're hoping for from a senior."

The Terps said they hope to use this game as a stepping stone for the rest of the season, as it provided the young team with valuable experience.  Kizer will likely continue to be relied upon to provide an example to her less-experienced teammates.

"I have to remember that I am a returning starter," Kizer said. "And I do have younger players that are looking up to me."

sports@umdbk.com