COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Interstat) — The Maryland women’s basketball team’s perfect start to the season was never in doubt Monday night. The Terrapins, fueled by a dominant opening quarter and a career-high scoring performance from Oluchi Okananwa, overwhelmed Wisconsin from the outset for a 97-59 victory at Xfinity Center.

The 14th-ranked Terrapins remained undefeated at 14-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten Conference play. Wisconsin fell to 9-4 and 0-1.

The game was effectively decided in the first 10 minutes. Maryland unleashed a blistering 29-point quarter, capitalizing on a chaotic and mistake-prone start by the Badgers. Wisconsin committed seven turnovers in the period and managed just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting, allowing the Terrapins to build a 29-8 lead.

Okananwa, a sophomore guard from Boston, was the catalyst for the early onslaught. She scored 10 of her game-high 28 points in the first quarter, showcasing her speed in transition and activity on both ends. Her performance set the tone for a Maryland defense that forced 21 Wisconsin turnovers, converting them into 20 points.

The most important sequence of the game came during a 90-second stretch late in that decisive first quarter. With Maryland already leading 14-2, Okananwa intercepted a pass and finished a layup. After a Wisconsin timeout, she grabbed a defensive rebound on the next possession and raced the length of the court for another score. Following another Badgers turnover, she stole the ball again and converted a third consecutive layup, pushing the lead to 21-2 and silencing any notion of a competitive contest.

Maryland’s offensive efficiency was starkly superior. The Terrapins shot 48.4% from the field and posted an offensive rating of 117.3 points per 100 possessions. Wisconsin, by contrast, shot 30.3% overall and had an offensive rating of just 71.0. The Terrapins also attempted 33 free throws, making 27, while Wisconsin went 14 of 17 from the line.

Beyond Okananwa’s 28 points in just 19 minutes, Maryland received balanced contributions. Yarden Garzon of Ra’anana, Israel, scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Addi Mack of Minneapolis and Saylor Poffenbarger of Middletown, Maryland, each added 14 points. Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu of London controlled the glass with nine rebounds.

Wisconsin, which never led, was led by Destiny Howell of Queens, New York, who scored 14 points. Shay Bollin of Raynham, Massachusetts, added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. The Badgers showed brief life with a 22-point third quarter but could not cut the deficit below 20 points.

Maryland’s defense was relentless, tallying 14 steals and consistently disrupting Wisconsin’s offensive sets. The Terrapins also dominated inside, outscoring the Badgers 38-24 in the paint.

The announced attendance was 7,580 at Xfinity Center.

Maryland next travels to face Illinois on Thursday. Wisconsin will visit Rutgers on Thursday.