Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 19 points, and second-seeded Maryland ruined Iona’s debut in the NCAA Tournament with a sloppy 74-58 victory Saturday.
Seeking to ultimately make a third straight appearance in the Final Four, the Terrapins got off to a rocky start on their own court. Maryland (31-3) let a 19-point lead dwindle to 60-53 early in the fourth quarter before finally pulling away from the 15th-seeded Gaels (23-12).
The Terrapins committed 19 turnovers, 11 before halftime. But the two-time Big Ten champions finished with a 42-27 rebounding advantage and outscored Iona 15-6 at the foul line to extend its winning streak to 10.
Maryland will next play at home Monday night against the winner of Saturday’s game between Penn and Washington.
Iona earned a berth in the tournament by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference crown. Facing a team rich in NCAA Tournament experience, the Gaels put up an impressive fight before succumbing.
Todd
This was not an impressive effort by the Terps. After the first quarter, they let Iona dictate the pace. The Gaels are a team that wants to play in the 60s. The Terps came out firing and had 25 at the end of the first quarter. Then theylayed the last three quarters just the way Iona wanted.
The 19 turnovers is a real problem. If they don’t fix that, they won’t survive Kentucky who, by the way, won their 3-14 game 85-31.
· 11/12/2019