Brenda Frese brings No. 3 Terrapins to Iowa

IOWA CITY — When Notre Dame came to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, it was the No. 1 women's basketball team in the country.

With all due respect, Lisa Bluder said, Maryland is better.

'That's not a slight on Notre Dame,' Bluder said Friday morning. 'But I really feel Maryland is the best team on our schedule this year.

'They're outstanding. You look at how close they played UConn (an 87-81 loss Dec. 29), and UConn is destroying everybody.'

Cedar Rapids native Brenda Frese brings the third-ranked Terrapins (16-1 overall, 4-0 Big Ten) to Carver for a 3 p.m. contest Saturday with the Hawkeyes (11-6, 2-2).

A graduate from Cedar Rapids Washington, Frese has built Maryland into a women's basketball giant. The Terrapins won the NCAA championship in 2006, and have gone to three Final Fours (2006, 2014, 2015).

Maryland is in its third year as a member of the Big Ten, and the Terrapins have dominated the league since their arrival.

The 2016 national leader in field-goal percentage, 6-foot-3 senior Brionna Jones is shooting 68.7 percent from the floor, and is averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. In Big Ten play, those numbers increase to 24.3 and 12.8.

'She is so strong, and her footwork is amazing,' Bluder said. 'She doesn't have any wasted energy in the post.'

Another veteran, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough adds 16.6 points per game. Add the No. 1 freshman class of the nation (two of which are starters), and the Terrapins are averaging more than 90 points per game.

'Our defensive transtion is going to have to be at its best,' Bluder said. 'They push the ball extremely well. You can't dig yourself a hole against a great team like that; they're just too good.

'But I'm not sure we want to be walking the ball up the floor, because that's not us.'

The Hawkeyes are coming off a strong performance in a 78-58 home win over Illinois on Wednesday.

Freshman Makenzie Meyer rejoined the starting lineup, replacing Christina Buttenham, and will remain there Saturday, Bluder said.

Megan Gustafson posted her ninth double-double of the season (20 points, 15 rebounds) Wednesday, and leads the Hawkeyes at 17.6 points and 10.2 boards per contest.

Ally Disterhoft needs three points to pass Michelle Edwards at No. 4 on Iowa's all-time scoring chart, and 23 to surpass Jaime Printy at No. 3.

Disterhoft (16.3 ppg) has slumped offensively in Big Ten play, shooting 36 percent (including 4 of 24 from 3-point range) since league action began.

She wore a wrap on her right wrist against Illinois, saying she 'tweaked it' in practice earlier in the week.

Bluder said, 'I don't even know if she had it taped in practice (since Wednesday). It's not a big deal.'

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com