No, I’m not talking about decades here, folks.
I would’ve told you all earlier, but unforeseen family obligations in Adamstown, Md., which is apparently still stuck in the 19th century as far as technology goes, kept me from blogging. But I digress. Here’s what’s important: The Terrapin women’s basketball team finished off the bulk of their non-conference schedule yesterday — a Jan. 31 game at Longwood still remains — with a 79-69 victory over Saint Joseph’s on Sunday. Against a team that lost by 31 points earlier this season to Providence, they didn’t look their best, but a win is a win.
Either way, with their cushy early-season schedule at an end, it’s now time for the Terps (12-2) to do battle in league play. They kick off their ACC slate Thursday at N.C. State. The Wolfpack aren’t among the conference’s best — in fact, they look pretty far from it — but this could be a pretty telling game for the Terps.
For one, it’s a road game. The Terps are 0-2 1-2 (with a win at American) away from Comcast Center this season. For another, it’s an ACC game without the likes of Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman. That duo led the Terps to conference glory last year, and to quote Rick Pitino, they’re not walking through that door any time soon.
“It’s a new slate now,” Frese said Sunday. “ACC play — every game’s going to be a battle. We know when we leave Comcast, you’ve got to be a lot tougher, a lot stronger when you go on the road. It’s 2010. I’m excited to see where we’re at as a team as we continue because like I told them, we are getting better.”
With the season’s second half days away from tip-off, Frese pinpointed two key issues the Terps have to manage to be successful:
- Turnovers. When the Terps are at their best, they’re not handing the ball to their opponents on a silver platter. Turnovers plagued the team in its two losses to Mississippi State and Towson, and the Terps will obviously be tested in-conference by the league’s abundant athleticism. Frese said 15 turnovers is the threshold the Terps hope they won’t have to cross.
- Free throws. The Terps are .650 from the line this year, which isn’t the type of number you want to see with an upcoming schedule conducive to nailbiters. The onus of better shooting largely falls on the shoulders of freshman forwards Diandra Tchatchoaung and Tianna Hawkins, who are a combined 56-for-98 (0.571) this season from the charity stripe.
On that note, the Terps will be without Kim Rodgers — one of their best free throw shooters — for several weeks after she fractured her left ring finger against UNC-Wilmington. It’s unfortunate timing for Rodgers and the Terps, who before the injury had only 10 serviceable players on their roster.
Jonas Shaffer is The Diamondback’s women’s basketball beat writer. He can be reached at shaffer@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jonas_shaffer.