COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Interstat) — The Maryland Terrapins used a dominant first-quarter surge and a balanced scoring attack to remain undefeated, dispatching the Princeton Tigers 84-68 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at a charged Xfinity Center.

A crowd of 6,748 watched the Terrapins (5-0) explode for 26 points in the opening period, building a commanding 16-point lead from which the Tigers (2-1) could never fully recover. While Princeton battled to trim the deficit to just four points late in the second quarter, Maryland reasserted control after halftime, outscoring the visitors 27-18 in the third quarter to pull away for good.

Maryland’s offense was fueled by a trio of guards. Oluchi Okananwa, a guard from Boston, led all scorers with 20 points, adding four rebounds and four assists. Saylor Poffenbarger of Middletown, Maryland, was a force on both ends, contributing 19 points, six rebounds and a steal. Addi Mack from Minneapolis chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, orchestrating the offense effectively. Off the bench, Kaylene Smikle provided a crucial spark, scoring 13 of her points in the second half.

Princeton was led by the backcourt duo of Madison St. Rose and Olivia Hutcherson. St. Rose, from Old Bridge, New Jersey, shouldered a heavy load, playing 38 minutes and scoring 20 points to go with four assists. Hutcherson, of Johns Creek, Georgia, was efficient inside, scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Fadima Tall, a guard from Silver Spring, Maryland, added 13 points and seven boards for the Tigers.

The game’s trajectory was set early. Maryland came out scorching, hitting from deep and converting Princeton turnovers into easy baskets. A 14-0 run midway through the first quarter, capped by a Saylor Poffenbarger three-pointer, forced a Princeton timeout and gave the Terrapins a double-digit lead they would hold for most of the contest.

To their credit, the Tigers did not fold. They clamped down defensively in the second quarter, holding Maryland to just eight points. A 12-2 Princeton run, finished by a Toby Nweke three-pointer, brought the Tigers within 32-30 with under two minutes to play in the half. The comeback attempt, however, stalled there, and Maryland took a 34-30 lead into the break.

Any hope for a Princeton upset was extinguished in the third quarter. The Terrapins reopened their lead with a 14-4 burst, re-establishing their offensive rhythm and capitalizing on their significant 38-22 advantage in points in the paint. Princeton could get no closer than 12 points in the final period.

The victory extends Maryland’s strong start to the season, while Princeton sees its two-game winning streak snapped. The Terrapins next host Bethune-Cookman on Thursday. Princeton returns home to face Rice on Wednesday.