Published January 08, 2015
Kiara Leslie scored 16 points in her freshman debut as No. 10 Maryland defeated Mount St. Mary's 109-45 in the opener for both teams.
Tierney Pfirman added 14 of her 16 points before halftime for the Terps, who had seven players in double figures and surpassed 100 points in an opener for the first time since 2005.
Jacqueline Brewer scored 12 points for Mount St. Mary's, which fell to 0-6 against Maryland.
The Mountaineers, who lost four starters from the team that reached the school's first-ever WNIT last season, were held to 29 percent (15 of 51) percent shooting and forced into 29 turnovers.
The Terps made 17 steals in their first game as a Big Ten program. Conference coach and media polls have tabbed Maryland as favorites this season despite the departure of career leading scorer and rebounder Alyssa Thomas, who helped the team to the 2014 Final Four.
Coach Brenda Frese should have time to allow her new group to jell. Maryland plays No. 3 Notre Dame on Dec. 3 in its only game against a ranked opponent before conference play begins.
She was able to empty her bench by the 6:56 mark of the first half. Maryland scored the first nine points, quickly built a double-digit lead and entered halftime ahead 57-25.
Pfirman at one point scored eight straight for Maryland in a late first-half stretch.
It got even worse for the Mountaineers after halftime, who trailed 77-29 after a 20-2 Terps run, and continued to build their lead until the final buzzer.
Leslie made 3-pointers late as the Terps scored the game's last 13 points.
TIP-INS
Maryland: A'Lexus Harrison sat out with a foot injury sustainedin the team's final exhibition game Saturday against Division II University of.
Mount St. Mary's: The Mountaineers lost all 10 of their meetings against Top 25 opposition. They came closest an upset with a 65-55 loss to No. 15 Virginia in 2008.
UP NEXT
Maryland welcomes Wagner Sunday in the second of a three home games to open the season.
The Mountaineers continue a four-game, opening trip Tuesday at Fordham.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/leslie-pfirman-score-16-each-to-lead-no-10-maryland-past-mount-st-marys-109-45-in-opener