No. 11 Maryland Cruises Past Loyola, Md, 84-46
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- Alyssa Thomas scored 20 points, freshman Brene Moseley added 17, and No. 11 Maryland never trailed in a season-opening 84-46 victory over in-state foe Loyola on Friday night.
Thomas, a 6-foot-2 sophomore forward, had 14 points in 14 minutes in the first half to stake the Terrapins to a 40-25 lead. The gap widened to 21 points with 17:43 left, and it was 66-36 with 9:41 to go. Thomas also contributed seven rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes.
Laurin Mincy scored 11 for the Terrapins, who have won 12 straight over Loyola and lead the series 18-3.
Maryland next faces No. 10 Georgetown on Sunday.
Katie Sheahin led the Greyhounds with 13 points. Loyola went 21-13 last season and won a game in the WNIT, the first postseason victory in the history of the program.
But the Greyhounds don't have the height or depth of the Terrapins. Maryland won easily despite playing without 6-4 senior center Lynetta Kiser, who has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
Thomas scored the game's first six points, and Maryland raced to an 8-0 lead as the Greyhounds committed turnovers on their first four possessions. Loyola answered with seven straight points before Mincy hit a baseline jumper and two foul shots to spark an 11-0 run.
That made it 19-7, and the Terrapins never let the margin shrink below double figures the rest of the way.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
