No. 5 Maryland Women Defeats No. 19 Delaware 85-76
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Laurin Mincy scored a career-high 25 points, Alyssa Thomas had 23, and No. 5 Maryland used a strong second half to defeat previously unbeaten and 19th-ranked Delaware 85-76 on Thursday night.
The Terrapins (13-0) trailed 44-41 before Mincy scored nine points in a 15-2 run that put Maryland ahead by 10 with 13:51 left. After the Blue Hens closed to 56-50, Anjale Barrett contributed the final seven points to a 9-2 spurt that upped the margin to 13.
Barrett had 16 points and eight assists, and Mincy scored 18 in the second half to help Maryland win the title game of the two-day Terrapin Classic.
Elena Delle Donne scored 32 for the Blue Hens (10-1), who were seeking to improve on the best start in school history. Delaware is 0-10 all-time against Maryland and 3-28 versus ranked opponents.
Delle Donne finished 10 for 19 from the field and made all 10 of her free throws. She kept the Blue Hens in striking distance by scoring 24 points after halftime, including two foul shots that made it 79-73 with 3:43 to go.
But the Terrapins simply had too much depth and height. Maryland finished with a 38-30 rebounding advantage, the first time this season Delaware was beaten on the boards.
Delaware ran off 11 straight points late in the first half, taking its second lead of the game before a follow-shot by Whitney Bays put Maryland ahead 39-38 at the break.
After Thomas scored off the opening tip, the Blue Hens went up 7-6. Thomas then made a pair of baskets in a 13-4 run that put the Terps in front 19-11. The only Delaware points during the surge were scored by Delle Donne, who also committed two turnovers.
It was 24-20 before Thomas drilled a 3-pointer off a pass from Barrett and Kim Rodgers sank two foul shots. Minutes later, Thomas drove the length of the court for a layup, was fouled and added the free throw to make it 37-27.
That would be the Terrapins' final points for a span of nearly nine minutes. Barrett had assists on five of Maryland's first eight baskets, but she hurt her left ankle trying to take a charge and did not play the last 6 minutes of the half.
