Thomas, No. 9 Maryland women rout Hartford 72-40

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Alyssa Thomas had 22 points and 11 rebounds, helping No. 9 Maryland cruise to a 72-40 victory over Hartford on Saturday in the championship game of the Terrapin Classic.

Tianna Hawkins scored 16 points and Alicia DeVaughn added 13 points and 13 rebounds for Maryland (10-2), which has won six straight games. The Terrapins improved to 96-5 in non-conference games at Comcast Center.

Daphne Elliott had nine points for Hartford (9-4) in the first meeting between the schools since December 1997. The Hawks, who had won three of four overall, are 0-2 all-time against Maryland.

Hawkins was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Maryland's early plan of clogging the middle and forcing the Hawks into low-percentage perimeter shots worked. Hartford started 7 for 20 from the field and the Terrapins took control en route to a 41-24 halftime lead.

Tierney Pfirman's three-point play 4:08 into the game ignited a 17-6 run that gave Maryland a 30-13 cushion with 8:09 remaining in the first half.

Hawkins had eight points in the run, reaching 1,200 for her career. In the middle of the run, she blocked Christie Michael's shot from the foul line, collected the rebound and scored on a transition layup, becoming the sixth player in Maryland history with 100 career blocks.

The Terrapins scored the first 10 points of the second half to increase their lead to 51-24, with Taylor getting six points, as Hartford missed its first seven shots to open the final 20 minutes.