October 15, 1998
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The 24th season of the Chris Weller Era begins Friday evening for the University of Maryland womens basketball program. Weller welcomes a remarkably young roster to the Terps Midnight Madness festivities which coincide with the Terrapin mens team and begin at 9:30 p.m. on Friday. The first official practice session of the 1998-99 season is scheduled for Saturday morning from 8:30 to 11:30 at Ritchie Coliseum.
Midnight Madness activities feature a live scrimmage by the Maryland mens team, picked among NCAA favorites this season by most national prognosticators, and introductions of the mens and womens teams near midnight. Activities are hosted by CBS-TV basketball analyst Clark Kellog and Marylands "Voice of the Terps," Johnny Holliday.
Weller welcomes five returners from her 1997-98 squad which finished 15-13 and advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. The Terps got past No. 9 North Carolina State 61-48 before falling to Clemson in a bid to qualify for Marylands 11th championship appearance.
Tops among the returning cast is 5-11 senior Kelley Gibson (Easton, Md.) who led the club in assists (4.3) and blocks (0.6) while averaging 6.8 points per game. Gibson, however, re-injured her left knee in a preseason workout and is out of action until at least December.
Returning starters Branka Bogunovic (Zemun, Serbia) and Tiffany Brown (Clinton, Md.) join Antonieta Gabriel (Virginia Beach, Va.), Michelle Miller (Dayton, Md.) and seven new players on a roster which certainly provides a new beginning for the Weller program.
"These kids are enthusiastic," says Weller with a lively grin. "Theyve all come from winning programs and theyre 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. Im excited."
Three seniors -- Sonia Chase, Stephanie Cross and Kalisa Davis -- were the Terps leading scorers from a year ago. Incoming freshmen are guaranteed to have immediate impact on this years club.
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 nations 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. Her Maryland teams have enjoyed national rankings in 14 seasons and 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 womens 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 and drew to College Park a sellout crowd that is still the largest in history to watch an ACC womens basketball game. Weller was 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 teams 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.
Brown is academically ineligible for the fall semester, and hopes to return for the Terrapin Classic on Dec. 22 and 23. Brown is the Terps leading returning scorer from 1997-98, averaging 7.3 points per game. She also is Marylands 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 nations 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 Marylands 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 Marylands rebounding efforts in 1998-99 ... also an excellent offensive player who has great offensive skills and can even shoot the "3".
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS
1
Marylands 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 Marylands 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 seasons NCAA Tournament.
14
The number of games on the 1998-99 Terrapin schedule against participants in last seasons NCAA Tournament.
40
The ranking bestowed upon Terp freshman Rosita Melbourne as the 40th-best womens freshman in the country, by Athlons 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 womens basketball championship in 1978.
