No. 8 Maryland couldn't catch a break Monday.
The day began with the Terrapins announcing that leading reserve Bry McDaniel will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Hours later, senior Shan'Ann Sellers left the second game of the Coretta Scott Classic doubleheader at Prudential Center with a right knee injury.
Maryland head coach Brenda Frese did not immediately provide an update on Sellers, who is scheduled to undergo medical evaluation on Tuesday after the 89-51 loss to No. 7 Texas.
Sellers leads the Terrapins in assists (4.9 points per game) and second in points (14.9 points per game). She also contributes 4.3 rebounds per game.
McDaniel, who injured his knee in last week's win over No. 24 Minnesota, has also been a big part of Maryland's success this season. She averaged 10.6 points, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game off the bench.
Sellers and McDaniel's absence from Monday's game “obviously” affected the outcome, Frese said.
“We're trying to regroup as a team, but losing Bri and then having Shai go down hurt a lot playing against a pressing team with limited guard play,” Frese said. “But playing on a top-10 team and losing two of your top three scorers is obviously a tough pill to swallow.”
Frese said Maryland (16-2) has only practiced without McDaniel twice in preparation for the game against Texas, but there is no easy solution to fill McDaniel's void. .
“I'm not going to replace a player like Bri,” Frese said. “Everybody's got to do a little bit more. It's got to be a little bit more on the defensive end, locking it down… It doesn't have to be done by one player. It has to be done by committee.”
With Sellers' future acquisition currently uncertain, the Terrapins may have to prepare for the reality of playing without two of their most impactful players.
“We're going to have to find a way to get on the glass and get to the free-throw line,” Frese said. “No one will pity us. So you just have to understand [how] To find out how. ”
Maryland opened the season 14-0, its best start since the 2011-12 season. But the Terrapins are 2-2 since Jan. 8 and are in the midst of their most difficult period of the season.
Maryland will play No. 9 Ohio State on Thursday and No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
“For us, it's just an understanding that it's not going to be too high or too low in January,” Frese said. “And we're going to figure it out. We always do.”
