Walker-Kimbrough, No. 8 Maryland blow by High Point 105-50
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Shatori Walker-Kimbrough isn't letting over-matched opponents stick around.
The Maryland guard had a career-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead No. 8 Maryland to a 105-50 romp over High Point on Wednesday night.
Maybe even more importantly, the junior did the bulk of her damage before halftime for a second straight game, with 19 points before the break to crush the visitors' hopes early.
''Shatori's been so consistent coming out in back-to-back games, leading this team with her energy and her intensity,'' said Maryland coach Brenda Frese. ''She's just set the tone for us. We've just got to have more players continue to play at that pace.''
Brionna Jones also had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins, who opened the game on an 18-5 run and scored the last 16 points of the first half to make it 48-20 at the break.
Kiah Gillespie added 19 points and Brene Moseley had 13 as Maryland (2-0) posted 100 points in consecutive games for the first time since home victories over Wofford and College of Charleston in December 2013.
''I think it's important for us to be balanced,'' Frese said. ''But at times, I've challenged Shatori that she's going to have to put up that kind of production until her teammates can come along. So it's kind of finding that blend.''
Kaylah Keys had 12 points and Kat Harris added 10 for High Point (1-2), which lost by more than 40 points again after falling 89-48 at North Carolina State on Sunday.
''We set our own goals, and we came just short of them,'' said High Point coach DeUnna Hendrix. ''But I thought our kids' resiliency and effort was pretty good.''
Walker-Kimbrough had scored 20 of her 22 points before halftime in Maryland's 102-53 victory over UMass-Lowell on Saturday to open the season.
The second-year starter continued that theme Wednesday, hitting an 18-foot jumper from the top of the arc that made it 12-2 and coaxed Hendrix into her first timeout. It didn't help, as Walker-Kimbrough followed with 3-pointers from each corner to push Maryland's lead to 13. She went on to record her second career double-double.
She scored six points in a later spurt to close the half, including a slick putback off Brene Moseley's miss, while also feeding Moseley for a transition layup and swatting one of her four blocks.
''I guess I like to lead by example,'' Kimbrough said. ''It's just whatever the defense gives us, and whatever the team needs me to do.''
HARPER BACK HOME
High Point assistant Laura Harper was among five members of Maryland's 2006 national championship team honored on the court before the game. Harper scored 1,407 points in her career and was a sophomore during the Terps' title run.
''It's special,'' Hendrix said of the moment. ''She doesn't talk a whole lot about it around our team, but it was an opportunity for her to share a piece of her.''
FEARLESS FRESHMEN
Maryland: Gillespie's 19 points followed 15 in her collegiate debut. ''Right now, it's just keeping my head, staying composed, and realizing basketball is basketball,'' Gillespie said.
High Point: Seven of the 10 players Hendrix used Wednesday were freshmen, accounting for 61.5 percent of the team's total minutes played.
TIP-INS
Maryland: Coach Frese moved to 399 career wins. ... Senior F Tierney Pfirman (hamstring strain) missed a second consecutive game.
High Point: Played its first game against a ranked opponent since losing to then-No. 7 Kentucky in November 2012.
UP NEXT
Maryland: Hosts Detroit for an 11 a.m. tipoff on Friday.
High Point: Travels to Davidson Saturday to complete a three-game road trip.
