NFL
By: Nathan Snell
For the first half of the 2025-2026 season, for the Maryland Women’s Basketball team. There is much to take away from this as Maryland looks to wrap up 2025 on a high note.
From injuries, comebacks, growth, poise, and perseverance. The Terrapins have been in this position before, and know what it will take as conference play officially begins on December 29th against Wisconsin.
This upcoming Friday, it is a special treat for terrapin fans, but for 13,000 local Maryland students, Santa Claus came early. Field Trip Day at Xfinity Center will feature 80 schools in attendance to watch No. 7 Maryland take on Central Connecticut.
Maryland will play its final non-conference game as an opportunity to work out any last-minute kinks and, more importantly, for Head Coach Brenda Frese, to finalize the rotation before Big Ten Conference Play.
The game will be on the Big Ten Plus, and tip-off starts at 11:00 am.
Let’s preview the game.
Record Does Not Mean Anything
Central Connecticut has yet to win a basketball game this season. The Blue Devils, who finished with eleven wins last season, and head coach Kristin Caruso, getting the nod to lead the program this season, just have not found their footing. They are one of three teams in the Northeast Conference that have not won a game. Mercyhurst has lost ten straight, and St Francis (Pa) has lost nine straight.
The Terrapins are fresh off a win against Delaware State, which had not won a game against a D1 school in two seasons. Head Coach Brenda Frese challenged the team, especially after the emotional win in Minnesota. The Blue Devils are essentially little giants in this matchup, but the Terrapins should not play down to them, as they won 10 of 11 conference games last season.
Nine-Day Rest, The Depth, Injuries, and Ten Days after.
At the start of the season, the schedule was condensed, and the Terrapins did not have enough time to build chemistry through practice. Since then, the Terrapins have experienced a lot; three players (Smikle, McKennie, and Bartelme) are done for the year. The rise of players like Kyndal Walker, Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, and Breanna Williams has shown their worth as the rotation is in a bind. Marya Boiko and Nicole Fritea have been finding their stride with increased usage. A week ago, on Wednesday, Addi Mack and Saylor Poffenabarger did not play because of ankle injuries.
Coming into this matchup:
*Bri McDaniel has not been released by the doctors, working her way into contact drills per head coach Brenda Frese
*Saylor Poffenbarger is still on rest protocol.
*Rainey Welson has been dealing with a leg injury and has been experiencing pain; she has been on minute restrictions.
*Addi Mack is expected to play tomorrow
Oh, 67 and fun
Friday is field trip day, and there will be 13,000 screaming kids who will remember the 67th point, and those who scored will be remembered for some time. The Players, Coaches, Photographers, Reporters, etc., will be front and center at Xfinity Center to see the smiles and excitement of a first game for some, and even potentially hear some Christmas caroling.
