Ignatius L Hoops
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...e0dbe4f2bca_story.html?utm_term=.1721adb617d2
“They told us it’s going to be tough because it’s three games in three days,” Charles said of the instruction she received from Walker-Kimbrough and Jones, both named first-team all-Big Ten for a third consecutive year. “You have to always bring your ‘A’ game. You can’t relax, and it’s going to be a lot of pressure on your body because you have to play your best game every game.”
Charles is coming off one of her more complete performances this season, with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks during a 93-60 win against Minnesota on Sunday at Xfinity Center in the regular season finale. The 2016 Washington Post All-Met girls’ player of the year from Riverdale Baptist is fourth on Maryland in scoring (9.9 points per game) and second in rebounding (5.6).
Starting point guard Destiny Slocum has been even more impressive on the way to being named Big Ten freshman of the year. Slocum, a McDonald’s all-American, validated Coach Brenda Frese’s lofty expectations by finishing second in the conference in assists (6.0) and first in Big Ten games (7.5) while leading Maryland in minutes (30.1).
Frese has been leaning more on a third freshman lately as well in Blair Watson, another McDonald’s all-American. A defensive specialist, the 6-foot guard has logged double-digit minutes in each of the past three games, including 21, her most in a Big Ten game, during an 89-40 win against Wisconsin on Feb. 15 in College Park.
Watson has 29 steals, the most among Terrapins bench players. As a team, Maryland leads the Big Ten with 11 steals per game.
Still, the Terrapins, according to Frese and her players, have been dedicating more time to defensive principles during recent practices. Defensive breakdowns, particularly in the early stages, contributed to Maryland’s lone conference loss this season, 98-87 to the Buckeyes on Feb. 20 in Columbus, Ohio.
It was the most points Maryland has surrendered this season, with Ohio State shooting 63 percent. The Buckeyes, behind two-time Big Ten player of the year Kelsey Mitchell, made 14 of 18 field goals (78 percent) in the first quarter and had 49 points by halftime.
Maryland ranks fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (36.7) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage defense (32.6) after finishing first and second, respectively, last season. The Terrapins permitted two of their past five opponents to shoot at least 48 percent from beyond the arc, including 56 percent (10 for 18) by Ohio State.
“They told us it’s going to be tough because it’s three games in three days,” Charles said of the instruction she received from Walker-Kimbrough and Jones, both named first-team all-Big Ten for a third consecutive year. “You have to always bring your ‘A’ game. You can’t relax, and it’s going to be a lot of pressure on your body because you have to play your best game every game.”
Charles is coming off one of her more complete performances this season, with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks during a 93-60 win against Minnesota on Sunday at Xfinity Center in the regular season finale. The 2016 Washington Post All-Met girls’ player of the year from Riverdale Baptist is fourth on Maryland in scoring (9.9 points per game) and second in rebounding (5.6).
Starting point guard Destiny Slocum has been even more impressive on the way to being named Big Ten freshman of the year. Slocum, a McDonald’s all-American, validated Coach Brenda Frese’s lofty expectations by finishing second in the conference in assists (6.0) and first in Big Ten games (7.5) while leading Maryland in minutes (30.1).
Frese has been leaning more on a third freshman lately as well in Blair Watson, another McDonald’s all-American. A defensive specialist, the 6-foot guard has logged double-digit minutes in each of the past three games, including 21, her most in a Big Ten game, during an 89-40 win against Wisconsin on Feb. 15 in College Park.
Watson has 29 steals, the most among Terrapins bench players. As a team, Maryland leads the Big Ten with 11 steals per game.
Still, the Terrapins, according to Frese and her players, have been dedicating more time to defensive principles during recent practices. Defensive breakdowns, particularly in the early stages, contributed to Maryland’s lone conference loss this season, 98-87 to the Buckeyes on Feb. 20 in Columbus, Ohio.
It was the most points Maryland has surrendered this season, with Ohio State shooting 63 percent. The Buckeyes, behind two-time Big Ten player of the year Kelsey Mitchell, made 14 of 18 field goals (78 percent) in the first quarter and had 49 points by halftime.
Maryland ranks fifth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (36.7) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage defense (32.6) after finishing first and second, respectively, last season. The Terrapins permitted two of their past five opponents to shoot at least 48 percent from beyond the arc, including 56 percent (10 for 18) by Ohio State.