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Takeaways from Maryland’s rout of Wisconsin

By Jasmine Brown

COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 10: Maryland Terrapins forward Shakira Austin (1) warms up before a women's college basketball game between the University of Maryland and Loyola (MD) University, on December 10, 2018, at Xfinity Center, in College Park, Maryland.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - DECEMBER 10: Maryland Terrapins forward Shakira Austin (1) warms up before a women's college basketball game between the University of Maryland and Loyola (MD) University, on December 10, 2018, at Xfinity Center, in College Park, Maryland.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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A dominant showing for Maryland’s frontcourt.

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland has been the team to beat for the last three years — really, since entering the Big Ten. But early losses to Rutgers and Michigan State served as reminders that it’s never as easy as Brenda Frese’s teams typically make it look, as they did Thursday night in a 75-57 win over Wisconsin.

Since that Michigan State loss, the Terps have won four straight and are now19-2 on the season. Every single player for Maryland scored as they used another strong fourth quarter to propel them to a win. Shakira Austin  finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Blair Watson also had 11 rebounds and added five rebounds. Brianna Fraser tallied up six rebounds, which helped her reach 500 rebounds in her Maryland career.

Here’s what we learned Thursday night in College Park.

Shakira Austin is gaining more confidence 

Freshman Shakira Austin achieved another double double, her eighth of the year. Austin explained her recent upturn in conference play: “My teammates are still giving me confidence and still passing me the ball and making sure that I keep my head up and worry about the next play,” Austin said following the game. “Teams are going to bring their A-game every game, so just making sure that we do the same.”

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Terps are getting it done in the paint 

Maryland attempted only 12 three pointers but they still won by 18 points. They went 7-for-12 from three, so they were efficient, but it’s interesting to see how much this Brenda Frese team gets its production inside.

The bench is contributing, too

Once the Terps had put the game away,  Frese cleared the bench. Sarah Myers and Olivia Owens came into the game and immediately made an impact. Myers hit a three, while Owens went to the basket for an easy layup.

“Our bench was terrific tonight and I love that when they have their window and their opportunity. They took full advantage,” Frese said. “I said when I thought our energy was a little flat in the first half, now that makes you strongly consider [your rotations] when you see that energy coming off the bench and being ready. [They] just continue to keep making us better.”

The Terrapins will head onto the road to face a scrappy Illinois team Monday night.

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