BALTIMORE — In their season opener on Monday, No. 18 Maryland showcased a strong defensive strategy, overwhelming UMBC with a decisive 74-32 victory. Christina Dalce led the Terrapins with a double-double, scoring 13 points and securing 10 rebounds.

The Maryland defense was particularly impressive in the second half, where they held the Retrievers to a mere 10 points, allowing them only three successful shots out of 20 attempts. The Terrapins entered halftime with an 11-point lead, 33-22, and showed no signs of letting up after the break.

Support came from Shyanne Sellers and Allie Kubek, who contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively. This season, the Terrapins feature a revamped lineup, with ten fresh faces including seven transfers. Dalce, who was recognized as the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East while playing at Villanova, made a significant impact in her debut for Maryland.

For UMBC, Jordan Lewis managed to score 10 points; however, the Retrievers struggled offensively, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of only 23.3%. They converted just 10 of their 43 attempts, including a disappointing 5 of 24 from inside the arc and 5 of 19 from beyond the three-point line.

In the first quarter, Maryland got off to a strong start, making 6 of 10 shots while limiting UMBC to just 2 of 11. This early performance helped the Terrapins jump ahead 18-8. Both teams battled with turnovers, combining for 27 in the first half, but Maryland still managed to maintain its lead. Despite finishing with a total of 22 turnovers, Maryland dominated the boards, out-rebounding UMBC 48-18, and significantly outscoring them in the paint with a 50-10 advantage.

In the second half, Maryland not only maintained control but also built momentum, executing runs of 10-0 and 9-0. The game concluded with the Terrapins scoring the final 15 points as UMBC was unable to connect on their last six attempts and committed five turnovers. The impressive defensive effort by Maryland marks a promising start to the season.