Maryland Dominates Hofstra 95-38 in Puerto Rico, Completes 2-0 Run
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In a convincing display of strength, No. 7 Maryland cruised past Hofstra 95-38 in the Puerto Rico Classic, capping off a perfect 2-0 start to the tournament. The Terrapins got their first taste of a tough opponent in the opener, where they edged out No. 16 Kentucky 74-66 in a closely contested battle between unbeaten teams. Kaylene Smikle led Maryland's offense with 13 points, while Addi Mack, Marya Boiko, and Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu all contributed 10 points each. The team's impressive performance was fueled by a 58% shooting percentage, a 40-17 rebounding advantage, and 24 turnovers forced by the Terps, which translated to 41 points. Maryland's bench was active, with 13 players seeing action and 11 players logging double-figure minutes. Olivia VanPatten led Hofstra with eight points, but the Pride struggled to keep pace, shooting just 33% from the field. The Terrapins took control early, scoring the first 10 points of the game and maintaining a strong lead throughout the contest. Maryland's high-powered offense was on full display, with the team making 9 of 12 shots and hitting three 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Terrapins continued to pull away in the second quarter, making 4 of 8 3-pointers and extending their lead to 53-19. Maryland's stingy defense forced 15 turnovers, which resulted in 26 points for the Terps. The final quarter saw the Terrapins outscore the Pride 23-9, securing a commanding 76-28 lead by the end of the third quarter. Although Maryland's shooting efficiency dipped slightly in the fourth quarter, the team still managed to emerge victorious. The Terrapins will return home to face Mt. St. Mary's on Wednesday night, while Hofstra will take on East Carolina in their second tournament game on Friday night.
