CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Redshirt freshman Kendall Walker scored a career-high 20 points in a 99-67 win over Murray State in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, and she got plenty of help from her Maryland teammates.
Mir McLean scored 19 points, Addi Mack added 18, while Yarden Garzon scored 12 and Saylor Poffenbarger scored 10 for fifth-seeded Maryland, which stunned the Racers on the boards.
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The Terrapins (24-8), who tied their regular-season high points with 50 percent shooting from the field, will face the winner of North Carolina-Western Illinois in Sunday’s second round.
Halli Poock scored 27 points and Haven Ford and Keslyn Secrist added 17 each to lead No. 12 seed Murray State (31-4) to a win that set a school record despite having its 15-game winning streak snapped.
Maryland’s 24 offensive rebounds exceeded Murray State’s total, with the final rebounding deficit being 51-21.
Maryland started the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run. Murray State gave up a season-high score with just over four minutes left in the game.
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Led by Walker, Maryland Prep outscored Murray State’s reserves 33-0.
Maryland led 38-19 in the second quarter and 51-35 at halftime. The Terrapins shot 50% in the first half and led 25-10 in rebounding.
Sechrist scored six straight points for Murray State, and the Contesters went on an 8-2 spurt at the end of the third quarter to lead 73-59.
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Maryland will appear in at least two NCAA Tournament games for the 20th time in its past 22 tournaments.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
