Brenda Frese Reacts to Maryland’s 101-93 Loss to South Carolina: What the Terrapins Coach Said After the Paris Opener

Maryland head coach Brenda Frese saw her team fall short against No. 1 South Carolina, but the Terrapins’ second-half response gave her reasons to be encouraged.

The No. 20 Terrapins lost 101-93 in Paris on November 2, 2026, after falling behind by as many as 31 points. Despite the difficult opening, Maryland fought back, made defensive adjustments and turned what appeared to be a one-sided contest into a competitive finish.

Following the game, Frese highlighted her team’s resilience, praised sophomore guard Addi Mack and acknowledged that Maryland had made mistakes that contributed to the early deficit.

Here is a breakdown of her publicly reported postgame comments and what they reveal about Maryland’s performance.

1. Frese Was Proud of Maryland’s Second-Half Response

The biggest positive for Frese was the way her players refused to give up after South Carolina established a commanding advantage.

Maryland entered halftime trailing 61-33. The Gamecocks had controlled the opening 20 minutes with their transition offense, defensive pressure and ability to score around the basket.

However, the Terrapins returned with a different level of urgency. They outscored South Carolina in both the third and fourth quarters, eventually bringing the deficit down to six points in the closing stages.

Frese specifically praised the team’s determination after the break.

“I’m really proud of our resiliency in the second half,” Frese said. “Obviously, Addi put the team on her back.”

She also expressed excitement about the mentality her players displayed during the comeback.

“I thought we showed a mentality I’m really excited about.” The Washington Sun

Those comments suggest that, despite the defeat, Frese viewed the second-half performance as evidence of the team’s competitive character.

2. Addi Mack Earned Special Recognition

One player who made Maryland’s comeback possible was sophomore guard Addi Mack.

Mack delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with a career-high 35 points, six rebounds and six three-pointers. Even more impressive, she scored 31 of those points after halftime.

Her third-quarter performance was particularly remarkable. Mack went 7-for-7 from the field and made all three of her attempts from beyond the arc, scoring 17 points in the period.

She continued attacking in the fourth quarter, helping Maryland cut into South Carolina’s advantage.

Frese’s comment that Mack put the team on her back accurately captured the importance of her contribution. When Maryland needed an offensive leader, the sophomore responded with one of the best performances of her career.

3. Maryland’s Scouting Mistakes Were Costly

While Frese celebrated the team’s response, she did not ignore the problems that created such a difficult situation.

According to her postgame remarks reported by On3, Maryland failed to execute certain elements of its scouting plan. Those missed opportunities had a significant impact during the opening half.

“We missed some things we thought scouting-wise that we thought we could do and it was impactful,” Frese said. “The good news is it is all things we can fix, and I thought we started to move that needle in the second half.”

This is an important assessment because South Carolina’s early dominance was not simply the result of superior individual talent. Maryland also struggled to execute its defensive responsibilities and contain the Gamecocks’ transition opportunities.

The improvement after halftime demonstrated that the Terrapins could make adjustments, although they needed a much stronger opening performance.

4. Defensive Adjustments Helped Maryland Fight Back

Frese also made changes defensively as the game progressed.

One notable adjustment was using a box-and-one defense to disrupt South Carolina’s offensive rhythm. Maryland also improved its ability to pressure the ball and challenge the Gamecocks in the half court.

The Terrapins’ improved shooting helped them establish their defensive pressure more consistently. They finished with 13 three-pointers, while Mack’s outside shooting played a major role in the comeback.

Still, South Carolina’s size and early scoring advantage proved difficult to overcome. The Gamecocks finished with a 44-36 rebounding advantage and scored 52 points in the paint.

5. What Frese’s Comments Mean for Maryland

The loss was disappointing, but there were encouraging signs for Frese’s team.

Maryland demonstrated that it could compete offensively against one of the country’s strongest programs. Mack’s emergence, contributions from the other double-digit scorers and the defensive adjustments all provide positives to build on.

However, the opening half exposed issues that cannot be repeated against elite opponents. Maryland must improve its defensive communication, execute its scouting assignments and avoid allowing opponents to establish enormous early leads.

Frese’s message was ultimately one of accountability and encouragement: the first-half mistakes mattered, but the second-half response showed what Maryland could become.

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