Terps squeeze by in Puerto Rico

Jones fuels first-half run, Maryland holds on to capture sixth straight game

TRUJILLO ALTO, PUERTO RICO — Stephanie Jones scored 21 points, and No. 7 Maryland held off Georgia for a 58-51 victory Saturday in the Puerto Rico Clasico tournament.

The Terps (6-0) led 53-51 in the final minute before Brianna Fraser hit a jumper and Taylor Mikesell added a free throw with 20 seconds left to quell the comeback bid.

Maryland made more field goals in the first quarter (10) than over the final three periods (nine).

“We found a way with pure toughness to grit this win out against a tremendous SEC team like Georgia,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “They’re extremely athletic but proud of the 40-minute fight we put together. Stephanie Jones was fantastic. She was our MVP of this tournament. Her play both nights, allowed us to be successful.”

Jones (Aberdeen) scored 17 in the first half, and the Terps held a 15-point lead early in the second quarter. But Georgia (3-3) went ahead 40-38 shortly after halftime, and the game remained close during a fourth quarter in which the Terps missed nine of 11 shots from the field and the Bulldogs went 3 for 20.

Jones was the only Maryland player to score in double figures. Mikesell and Fraser had eight points apiece and Shakira Austin contributed 14 rebounds. Gabby Connally scored 16 on 5-for-21 shooting for Georgia, which was outscored 16-6 at the foul line. BIG PICTURE GEORGIA: The Bulldogs are a .500 team, but that likely won’t last for long if their defense against the seventh-ranked team in the country is any indication.

MARYLAND: The Terps got off to a fast start for a change and showed their mettle from playing in a close game following a series of blowouts. This victory, albeit by a narrow margin, should not impact their perch in the top 10. UP NEXT GEORGIA: Faces Mercer on Wednesday night, the first of three straight nonconference home games.

MARYLAND: Hosts Georgia Tech on Wednesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.