Women's Basketball Set to Start 1998-99
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
October 19, 1998
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With the first couple of practices under their belts, the Maryland women's basketball Terrapins continue working toward its first exhibition contest on Sunday, Nov. 1 against Tapiolan Honka Club of Finland. Head coach Chris Weller's 24th team meets the media in a post-practice event scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m. (Media may attend and film practice which begins at 12:30.)
Weller's primary task during the early season is to blend seven newcomers, including six freshmen, with five returners. Freshmen will play early and often for the Terps, especially considering the loss of senior Kelley Gibson (Easton, Md.) to her third torn ACL injury in five seasons. Gibson is expected to return to the Terps in early January. Maryland is also without the services of junior point guard Tiffany Brown (Clinton, Md.) until a Dec. 22 date with Rutgers, due to academic ineligibility.
Returning to anchor the post is junior center Branka Bogunovic (Zemun, Serbia) who improved to shoot 56.8 percent from the floor during 16 ACC contests last season, and averaged 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds for the season. Six freshmen and JC transfer Cara Ferris (Pensacola, Fla.) will key Terrapin fortunes.
Among the cast of freshmen are four highly regarded local athletes. Six-foot-three Rosita Melbourne (Washington, D.C.) has been tabbed the 40th best freshman player in the nation. Ginji Perry (Hyattsville, Md.) sat out the 1997-98 season, but was the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year in 1997. Ije Agba (Rockville, Md.) and Deedee Warley (Fort Washington, Md.) both were Washington Post All-Met selections in 1998 while leading their teams to 26-0 and 30-1 records, respectively.
Joining the cast of locals are freshmen March Strickland (Kingston, Mass.), the Massachusetts state scoring champion for two seasons, and Yugoslavian guard Maria Ilic (New Belgrade, Yugoslavia) who prepped at Ocean City High in New Jersey.
"These kids are enthusiastic," says Weller with a lively grin. "They've all come from winning programs and they're self-motivated. They already have high standards. Every player has a chance to make their stamp on this program. These players are looking forward to returning Maryland to the national Top 20, even the Top 10. I'm excited."
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY - The Terps will meet and greet the media following practice at Cole Field House on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Practice begins at 12:30 p.m. and is open. Media are welcome to film. Head coach Chris Weller will address media following a brief cooling period, and players and coaches will be available for one-on-one interviews. Please contact Kevin Messenger in the media relations office at 301-314-7066 with special requests.
LAST SEASON AND HISTORY - The Terps were 15-13 a year ago in their 27th varsity season since 1971-72. Maryland has advanced to 15 national tournaments and three Final Fours including a national title appearance against UCLA in 1978. The Terps have been ranked in final AP polls 12 times, and have boasted national rankings in 14 seasons total. Maryland was the nation's No. 1 ranked team for four weeks during the 1991-92 campaign. Maryland missed a bid to the 1998 NCAA Tournament, one year after attending the NCAA Midwest First Round in 1997.
HEAD COACH CHRIS WELLER - Chris Weller (Maryland '66) has guided her alma mater to a national championship game and three Final Four appearances. She has engineered an unprecedented eight ACC championships while compiling a 447-221 (.669) record through 23 seasons. In 1995, she became just the fifth coach in women's college basketball history to earn at least 400 victories at the same school. Three years earlier, her Terps were No. 1-ranked for a month which led to her naming as the 1992 Naismith and United States Basketball Writers Association national coach of the year. A member of the WBCA legislative committee, she also has coached three different U.S. Select Teams. Weller was a member of Maryland basketball, lacrosse and swimming teams as a student-athlete.
TERPS EXHIBITION OPENER SLATED FOR NOV. 1 - Maryland hosts Tapiolan Honka Club of Finland at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1 in the first game appearance of the 1998-99 season. It is the first of two exhibition contests to prepare the Terps for their regular season opener on Sat., Nov. 14 against UNC Greensboro.
BROWN AND GIBSON OUT EARLY - The Terps will take on the early part of the 1998-99 schedule without returning starters Kelley Gibson and Tiffany Brown.
Gibson, the team's lone senior, re-injured her left knee during preseason workouts, marking the third of her five seasons that one knee or the other has resulted in missed action. She hopes to return for games in early January.
Brown is academically ineligible for the fall semester, and hopes to return for the Terps' non-conference date with Rutgers on Dec. 22. Brown is the Terps' leading returning scorer from 1997-98, averaging 7.3 points per game. She also is Maryland's career 3-point field goals leader after just two seasons.
WHO ARE THE NEWCOMERS?
Ijeoma Agba (6-0, Fr., Rockville, Md.)
Defense-minded forward from nearby Wheaton High ... can play both "3" and "4" positions ... versatile, blue-collar worker expected to be an aggressive rebounder.
Cara Ferris (6-1, Jr., Pensacola, Fla.)
Junior college product expected to contribute maturity as well as provide steady play on the floor .... can play swing and power forward positions ... good offensive player and passer, very consistent.
Marija Ilic (5-11, Fr., New Belgrade, Yugoslavia)
European freshman who prepped at Ocean City High in New Jersey ... skilled shooter who will play a perimeter role.
Rosita Melbourne (6-3, Fr., Washington, D.C.)
One of the most physically talented recruits Chris Weller has ever brought onto the College Park campus ... a raw talent ranked among the nation's top 40 freshman players ... exceptional quickness, leaping ability and shot-blocking capability.
Ginji Perry (5-11, Fr., Hyattsville, Md.)
Versatile and talented guard prospect who should see immediate time at both guard slots ... a poised, all-around talent who can score and excels as a ball-handler ... plays a role similar to senior Kelley Gibson ... Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year two seasons ago.
March Strickland (5-9, Fr., Kingston, Mass.)
Perimeter shooter who should find a spot in Terps' guard rotation early ... very heady player who could be one of Maryland's top scoring threats as a freshman ... Massachusetts' state scoring champion as a junior and senior.
Deedee Warley (6-1, Fr., Fort Washington, Md.)
Very physical presence inside who should help in increasing Maryland's rebounding efforts in 1998-99 ... also an excellent offensive player who has great offensive skills and can even shoot the "3".
PRESEASON COVERAGE
Preseason Practice Schedule:
Midnight Madness Date: Friday, Oct. 16 Time: 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Site: Cole Field HousePractice Schedule This week's practice schedule is as follows. All practice sessions take place at Cole Field House unless otherwise noted:
Tue., Oct. 20 -- Off Wed., Oct. 21 -- 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thu., Oct. 22 -- 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 23 -- 12:45 to 3:45 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24 -- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sun., Oct. 25 -- Off Mon., Oct. 26 -- 12:45 to 3:45 p.m. Tue., Oct. 27 -- 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wed., Oct. 28 -- 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
SCHEDULE
N1 + Tapiolan Honka (Finland) 4:00 p.m. N6 + Kazakistan 7:30 p.m. N14 UNC Greensboro 2:00 p.m. N17 at Loyola (Md.) 7:00 p.m. N20 at Howard 7:00 p.m. N24 Hampton 7:30 p.m. D2 Western Michigan 7:30 p.m. D5 * at Clemson 7:00 p.m. D10 at Penn State 7:30 p.m. D13 * Wake Forest 2:00 p.m. D22 Rutgers 7:30 p.m. D28 TERRAPIN CLASSIC Richmond vs. UMass 4:30 p.m. Maryland vs. Coppin St. 6:30 p.m. D29 TERRAPIN CLASSIC Consolation Game 5:30 p.m. Championship Game 7:30 p.m. J2 * Duke 2:00 p.m. J8 * at Virginia 7:30 p.m. J10 * at North Carolina 4:00 p.m. J14 * NC State 7:30 p.m. J17 * Florida State 2:00 p.m. J21 * at Georgia Tech 7:00 p.m. J28 * Clemson 7:30 p.m. F1 * at Duke 7:00 p.m. F3 Morgan State 7:30 p.m. F6 * at Wake Forest 2:00 p.m. F8 * Virginia 7:00 p.m. F11 * North Carolina 7:30 p.m. F15 * at NC State 7:00 p.m. F18 * at Florida State 7:00 p.m. F21 * Georgia Tech 2:00 p.m. F26- at ACC Tournament (Independence M1 Arena, Charlotte, N.C.) * ACC game + exhibition game
1997-98 ACC FINAL STANDINGS -------ACC------ -----Overall---- Teams W L Pct. W L Pct. Duke 13 3 .813 24 8 .750 Clemson 12 4 .750 25 8 .757 NC State 12 4 .750 25 7 .781 No. Carolina 11 5 .688 27 7 .794 Virginia 9 7 .563 19 10 .655 Maryland 7 9 .438 15 13 .536 Florida State 5 11 .313 9 18 .333 Georgia Tech 3 13 .188 11 17 .393 Wake Forest 0 16 .000 4 23 .148 ACC Postseason Results NC State -- East Region champion, lost to Louisiana Tech in national semifinals North Carolina -- lost to Tennessee in Mideast Region Final Duke -- lost to Arkansas in West Region Final Clemson -- lost to Louisiana Tech in Midwest Region Second Round
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS
1 Maryland's scoring defense led the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with an average of 60.2 points allowed per game. The Terps allowed just 59.4 in ACC action.
3 Only three classes of players under Chris Weller have failed to participate in at least one Sweet Sixteen appearance.
4 Kelley Gibson led the Terrapins and was fourth in the ACC in assists last season with 4.3 per game.
6 Maryland welcomes six freshmen to its 1998-99 roster.
7 Tiffany Brown buried a Terrapin record seven 3-pointers in Maryland's rousing upset over North Carolina last year on ESPN2.
8 The Terps have captured an unprecedented eight ACC championships.
9 The number of teams on the 1998-99 Terrapin schedule that qualified for last season's NCAA Tournament.
14 The number of games on the 1998-99 Terrapin schedule against participants in last season's NCAA Tournament.
40 The ranking bestowed upon Terp freshman Rosita Melbourne as the 40th-best women's freshman in the country, by Athlon's College Basketball Preview Magazine.
56.8 The shooting percentage posted by 6-8 Serbian center Branka Bogunovic during 16 ACC games last season.
200 The number of victories Chris Weller has posted against foes currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference, pre-dating the advent of the ACC women's basketball championship in 1978.
1998-99 MARYLAND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTERNO. NAME HT. POS. CL.-EXP. HOMETOWN/HS (PREVIOUS SCHOOL) 30 IJEOMA AGBA 6-0 F FR.-HS ROCKVILLE, MD./WHEATON 55 BRANKA BOGUNOVIC 6-8 C JR.-2V SERBIA, YUGOSLAVIA/ZEMUN 3 TIFFANY BROWN 5-6 G JR.-2V CLINTON, MD./ELIZABETH SETON 33 CARA FERRIS 6-1 F JR.-JC PENSACOLA, FLA./WASHINGTON (PENSACOLA JC) 32 ANTONIETA GABRIEL 6-0 F JR.-1V VIRGINIA BEACH, VA./SALEM (U. OF D.C.) 45 KELLEY GIBSON 5-11 G-F SR.-3V EASTON, MD./EASTON 24 MARIJA ILIC 5-11 G FR.-HS NEW BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA/OCEAN CITY, N.J. 42 ROSITA MELBOURNE 6-3 F FR.-HS WASHINGTON, D.C./H.D. WOODSON 12 MICHELLE MILLER 5-9 G JR.-1V DAYTON, MD./GLENELG 25 GINJI PERRY 5-11 G FR.-HS HYATTSVILLE, MD./ELIZABETH SETON 20 MARCH STRICKLAND 5-9 G FR.-HS KINGSTON, MASS./SILVER LAKE 34 DEEDEE WARLEY 6-2 F FR.-HS FORT WASHINGTON, MD./ST. JOHN'S HEAD COACH: CHRIS WELLER (MARYLAND '66/24TH SEASON) ASSISTANT COACH: CHRISTY WINTERS (MARYLAND '90/2ND SEASON) ASSISTANT COACH: JEANETTE ARMENTANO (QUEENS COLLEGE '81/1ST SEASON) ASSISTANT COACH: KARL SMESKO (KENT '93/1ST SEASON) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: JIMMY HOWARD (GREENSBORO COLLEGE '86/1ST SEASON)
