PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — The Maryland women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, routing Rutgers 88-41 at Louis Brown Center in a Big Ten Conference game. The Terrapins seized control early, building a 44-16 halftime lead and never relenting. Yarden Garzon led Maryland with 18 points and nine assists. Addi Mack added 15 points. The Terrapins shot a blistering 64% from three-point range, making 16 of 25 attempts. Rutgers, which shot just 20% from the field, was led by Nene Ndiaye’s 11 points. Maryland improved to 16-1 overall. Rutgers fell to 8-8.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — The Maryland Terrapins delivered a defensive masterclass and an offensive clinic Thursday night, dismantling the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a lopsided Big Ten women’s basketball contest at Louis Brown Athletic Center. The final score reflected a game that was decided almost from the opening tip, as Maryland improved to 16-1 overall and Rutgers fell to an even 8-8. The most important part of the game was its decisive start. Maryland established overwhelming control in the first quarter, setting a tone of defensive suffocation and offensive efficiency from which Rutgers never recovered. The Terrapins opened the game on a 13-0 run, hitting their first three shots from beyond the arc. Rutgers did not score until nearly three minutes had elapsed and managed just 11 points in the opening period, already trailing by double digits. That early burst effectively ended the competitive phase of the game, as Maryland’s lead only expanded from there. Yarden Garzon, Maryland’s top performer, orchestrated the victory with precision. The 6-foot-3 guard from Ra’anana, Israel, scored 18 points and dished out nine assists in just 24 minutes, consistently finding open teammates against a scrambling Rutgers defense. Her backcourt partner, Addi Mack of Minneapolis, added 15 points, including three 3-pointers. The Terrapins’ depth was on full display, with Oluchi Okananwa of Boston scoring 10 points, Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu of London contributing 10 points and Rainey Welson of Greenville, Wisconsin, chipping in 12 points off the bench. For Rutgers, which struggled to find any offensive rhythm, Nene Ndiaye of Saly, Senegal, led the way with 11 points. Lauryn Swann of New York added seven points. The Scarlet Knights shot a frigid 20 percent from the field, making only 11 of 55 attempts. They were equally challenged from long range, connecting on just 3 of 16 3-point attempts. Maryland capitalized on Rutgers’ mistakes, scoring 28 points off 20 Scarlet Knight turnovers. The statistical disparity was stark. Maryland shot 48.3 percent from the field and a blistering 64 percent from 3-point range, making 16 of 25. The Terrapins also out-assisted Rutgers nine to six and recorded nine steals. While Rutgers managed to get to the free-throw line 22 times, making 16, it was a minor consolation in a game defined by Maryland’s dominance in nearly every other facet. The Terrapins led 44-16 at halftime after holding Rutgers to just five points in the second quarter. The margin grew to 65-23 after three quarters before Maryland cruised through the final period in front of an announced crowd of 1,687. The victory continued a strong start to conference play for Maryland, which entered as heavy favorites according to pregame projections. Rutgers, meanwhile, was left searching for answers after a second consecutive decisive Big Ten loss. Maryland next hosts Ohio State on Sunday. Rutgers travels to face Northwestern, also on Sunday.

Maryland Visits Rutgers in Big Ten Women’s Basketball Clash PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — The surging Maryland Terrapins, boasting one of the nation’s top records, face a Rutgers Scarlet Knights team seeking a signature conference win when the Big Ten foes meet Thursday afternoon at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Maryland (15-1, 3-1 Big Ten) arrives with momentum after an 82-67 victory over Indiana on Sunday. Their lone blemish is a narrow 73-70 road loss to Illinois on New Year’s Day. The Terrapins’ offense has been dominant, averaging 88.4 points in their last five games. The Terrapins are led by guard Oluchi Okananwa, who is coming off a career-high 34-point performance against Indiana. Over her last five games, she is averaging 22.8 points. Rutgers (8-7, 1-3) looks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 71-49 loss at Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights have struggled offensively in conference play, failing to reach 70 points in any of their four Big Ten contests. Forward Imani Lester has been a consistent performer for Rutgers, averaging 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds over her last five games. She posted 14 points and six rebounds in the loss to the Buckeyes. This matchup pits Maryland’s high-powered offense against a Rutgers defense that allows just 57.9 points per game at home this season. The Terrapins have won the last six meetings between the programs. Following this game, Maryland hosts Ohio State on Sunday. Rutgers travels to Northwestern on Sunday.