The No. 8 Maryland Terrapins continued their unbeaten start to the season with a resounding 107-57 victory over William and Mary on Thursday night. But the story of the game was Kaylene Smikle reaching the 1,000 point milestone for her collegiate career.
Smikle, a junior transfer from Rutgers, needed just 11 points entering the contest to eclipse the 1,000 point barrier. She wasted no time, pouring in 14 of her game-high 21 points in the first half. The historic basket came on a three-pointer midway through the second quarter, extending Maryland’s lead to 44-21 and capping a decisive 21-2 Terrapins run.
“I think it’s just a blessing. It’s a blessing to be here, it’s a blessing to accomplish this one milestone here at Maryland.”
Kaylene Smikle on reaching 1,000 career points
Terps Talent on Full Display
Smikle isn’t the only player lighting up the scoreboard for the Terrapins this season. Maryland boasts a roster loaded with scoring talent:
- Shyanne Sellers – 4-year Terrapin averaging 15.2 PPG
- Allie Kubek – Towson transfer in her 2nd year at Maryland
- Sarah Te-Biasu – VCU transfer leading the Terps in assists
All four players have now surpassed 1,000 points for their collegiate careers. The diverse scoring options have made Maryland’s offense nearly impossible to contain in the early going.
Dominance on Both Ends
While the offensive fireworks tend to garner the headlines, the Terrapins have been equally impressive on the defensive end. They held William and Mary to just 29% shooting and forced 22 turnovers.
The length and athleticism of Maryland’s roster allows them to smother opposing offenses. They contest every shot and use their quickness to jump passing lanes. The Terps have held their opponents under 60 points in 7 of their 11 games.
Upcoming Tests
Maryland will aim to continue their undefeated start as the schedule stiffens in the coming weeks. A Dec. 29 showdown with No. 15 Michigan State looms large and could be a matchup of unbeatens.
Big Ten play will certainly challenge this Terrapins squad that had an uncharacteristic early exit from the NCAA Tournament a season ago. But if Smikle and company continue to play at this level, they have to be considered a leading contender to cut down the nets in March.
