Maryland Heads to Raleigh, Utah Heads Back Home

For the third time in four years, Maryland is headed to the Sweet 16. Unlike the previous two trips, this one was a lot easier as both wins came via double digit and neither game was in doubt with 10 minutes to go. Now it's time for the real fun to begin as each time we will play from here on it, won't be as easy as the first two. While we are playing in ACC Country, we have never played at the RBC Center so the venue will be new to us.

Utah gave us a tough game at the start seemingly making every shot. At one point they built a seven-point lead, but then Maryland buckled down on defense and grabbed neither every rebound (Marissa had more rebounds than Utah in the first half and the Utes had only 4 rebounds in the last 14 minutes of the half). Offensively the team clicked and after a few blinks the Terps were up 8 and then a few blinks later they were up double digits.

The second half seemed more like a walk-through as we only shot 22%, but our rebounding power kept Utah at bay.

It was disappointing that KT and Marissa missed their last shots at Comcast Center, then again they missed their first shots too.

Standing between us and St. Lo is a rematch with Vandy from last year and either Benedict Arnold and the Redcoats or Baylor.

What I liked
- Marissa's aggressiveness on the glass. 18 rebounds is impressive no matter who you are playing. Every time I looked up she was grabbing another board. I was hoping for 20 but that's me being selfish.
- The play of Dee Liles. Her athleticism was on full display as she grabbed 17 boards and was flying all over the place.
- the defense. We really limited Utah's looks at the basket. It didn't hurt that #1 decided not to shoot the entire game. Back-to-back games of holding opponents under 60.

What I would like to see more
- Kizer establish herself. Two NCAA games and she has been invisible. We need her to do more.
- Better execution in the second half. We shot 22% in the second half and if not for our rebounding, Utah would have made it a lot closer. KT seemed to force it a bit and we should have kept going inside.
- Less Turnovers. 16 is too much against a team that didn't force the action. We had a lot of unforced TOs.

A few days off now until the Sweet 16.