Women's Basketball Travels West for Surf-N-Slam
12/27/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 27, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Games 10 & 11: Surf-N-Slam Tourney
Fri. & Sun., Dec. 28 & 30
Jenny Graig Pavilion (5,100)
San Diego, Calif.
Terps Travel West For Surf-N-Slam Tournament
* Hosted by the University of San Diego, Maryland faces No. 3/3 Texas Tech in the first round of the Surf-N-Slam Tournament on Dec. 28 at 11 p.m. EST. The winner of the game faces the winner of the Georgetown-San Diego matchup in the championship game on Dec. 30. The consolation game will also be played that evening.
* The Terps are coming off of a 72-38 rout of UMBC where all four Maryland freshmen led the team in scoring, each tallying in double figures. C'Vette Henson scored a career- and game-high 12 points in the win.
Last Time Out: Freshmen Lead Terps in final Non-Conference home clash
* The Terps dominated UMBC in its final game at Comcast Center in the year 2003, as the freshmen class led the team to a 72-38 win. C'Vette Henson scored a game-high 12 points, as all four freshmen scored in double figures. Shay Doron, Kalika France and Aurelie Noirez each had contributed 10 points.
* Maryland shot nearly 59 percent in the first half and 52 percent for the game, while the Retrievers struggled from the field, shooting under 27 percent from the field. All 12 of Henson's points came from behind the 3-point arc, as the team connected on 10-of-18 shots from that range. Every Terp saw playing time and 10 of 12 players tallied points in the win.
* Making her third-straight start, junior Anesia Smith dished out a career-high nine assists.
In the ACC Stats
* Several Terps rank among the top 10 in a number of key statistical categories in the ACC. Junior Alli Spence leads the conference with 6.29 assists per game, 2.29 three-point field goals made and a .533 three-point field goal percentage. She is also fifth in the ACC with a 2.10 assist-to-turnover ratio, a category which is led by fellow Terp junior Anesia Smith (2.64).
* Freshman Shay Doron is seventh in the conference in points per game (14.0) and ranks fifth in free throw percentage (.830). Having the best season of her career, senior Crystal Washington is third in the ACC with a .567 shooting percentage and third with 1.56 blocks per game.
* Maryland has seen much improvement under second-year head coach Brenda Frese. The Terps are just ahead of North Carolina (.728) and lead the ACC with a .729 team free throw percentage after ending 2002-03 ranked eighth at .616. Maryland is also the conference leader with a .446 shooting percentage from three-point land, which is up from its 2002-03 rate of .316.
In the National Stats
* As of Dec. 15, Junior Alli Spence is tied for 10th in the nation with 6.7 assists per game. She is also tied for 19th with a 50.0 percent three-point shooting percentage.
* Maryland's .422 three-point shooting rate is 11th in the nation.
Charge It!
* Maryland has drawn at least one offensive foul in every game this year. Freshman Shay Doron has been the main culprit of the Terps streak. She has taken a charge in every game this year. Prior to her arrival in College Park and playing as a member of the Israeli National Team, she drew a single-game record of six charges against the Croatian National Team.
Oliver Looking Perfect
* Senior Delvona Oliver has made 13 trips to the free throw line this season and has converted on all 13 opportunities. She is one of three players in the ACC who has not missed from the charity stripe. Duke's Iciss Tillis has hit on 20 free throw opportunities and Georgia Tech's Megan Harpring is 12-for-12 from the line.
* Maryland leads the league in team free throw percentage at .750 (120-160). The Terps' have made a huge improvement from the line. Last year, they were eighth in the ACC with a .616 free throw percentage.
The Dish on Spence
* Junior transfer Alli Spence has led the team in assists in all but one game she has played in, handing out a career-high 10 helpers in the win over Niagara. As a result, she is averaging a league-best 6.67 assists per game. She is also third in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.2.
* The 10 assists Spence handed out against Niagara is not only a career high but is also the most assists dished out by an ACC player so far.
Wins Vs. Ranked Opponents
* Maryland has posted 89 all-time wins over ranked opponents (since 1976-77) and 21 of those victories have been against teams ranked in the top 10. In the history of the program, the Terps have also claimed wins against top five teams 12 times. The Terps' last win over a top-five squad was when they beat Virginia, the No. 1 team in the nation, during the 1991-92 season, 67-65. Maryland was ranked No. 3 in that game.
* In 89 of the Terps' all-time wins over ranked teams, the Terps were unranked in 24 of those games. Maryland's only win over a top-five team while unranked was an 81-80 upset over No. 3 NC State on Jan. 26, 1991.
* The Terps have not defeated a ranked foe since defeating four ranked teams during the 2000-01 season, but nearly defeated No. 8/7 North Carolina last year, falling on a buzzer-beating shot in College Park, 83-82. This season, Maryland is 0-2 against ranked teams.
Terps Double Up
* Three different Terps have posted double-doubles this season and in each case, the players have accomplished that feat for the first time in their careers.
* Senior Crystal Washington's 18 points and 10 rebounds against Niagara were career highs. She posted the second double-double of her career in the win over Loyola with 14 points and 10 boards.
* Senior Delvona Oliver netted 18 points and grabbed 10 boards in the win over Sacred Heart for her first-career double-double as a Terp.
* Sophomore Chrissy Fisher needed just 20 minutes for her first-career double-double. She had 11 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against UMES and ended the game 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
* Sophomores Charmaine Carr and Angel Ross are the only other current Terps to ever post double-doubles. Carr had 14 points and 11 rebounds against Rider on Nov. 29. Ross accomplished that feat three times last season.
Noirez Joins Terps For Final non-Conference home Matchup
* Forced to sit out the first eight games of the season because of international eligibility status, freshman center Aurelie Noirez took to the hardwood for the first time against UMBC. A native of France, Noirez scored 10 points in her first-collegiate appearance with eight coming in the second half. She had four rebounds, a block and a steal in 19 minutes of playing time.
Moving Up
* Two Terps are ascending up the Maryland record books. Fifth-year senior Vicki Brick broke into the top 10 in career steals last year and now ties for eighth in the record books at 212. She also ranks 12th with 324 career assists.
* In just one season, sophomore Chrissy Fisher has already made her mark in the Maryland record books. One of the best three-point sharp shooters in school history, she ranks sixth in the career record books with 51 three-pointers made and sixth with 138 three-point field goals attempted. Entering the season with a .382 field goal percentage behind the arc, she ranked fourth-best all-time.
Doron Selected Rookie of the Week
* After shooting a scorching 62.5 percent from the first in the Terrapin Classic, Maryland's Shay Doron was named ACC Rookie of the Week on Dec. 1. Doron scored in double figures in back-to-back games of the Terrapin Classic. She led all scorers with 22 points in the 90-49 win over Sacred Heart, going 9-for-12 from the field. She followed up with a 15-point outing on 6-for-12 shooting, dishing out a career-high six assists, helping the Terps to a 97-65 win over UMES and to the Terrapin Classic title. Doron, who led all players in the tournament in points, field goals made and three-point field goals made, was 4-for-4 from three-point land, sinking a pair in each game.
Protecting the Home turf
* The Terps are 6-1 this season at Comcast Center, improving their all-time record at home to 369-107 (.775) for one of the best all-time home records in the country. Entering the 2003-04 season, College Park was ranked 27th all-time for best city record. Cole Field House, which was the home of the Terps from 1974-2002, ranks as the 46th-best home venue all-time at 288-95 (75.2 percent).
Terps Dominate Old Line State
* The Terrapins have dominated other Maryland teams in women's basketball over its 33-year existence, compiling a 64-8 all-time record against those teams. Only Loyola, Towson and Western Maryland have ever recorded wins over the Terps.
* The Terps have not lost to a Maryland squad since a 50-43 setback at Loyola on Nov. 17, 1998.
Flawless Fall
* Maryland was perfect in November, winning all four games schedule. The last time the Terps went undefeated in that month was when they went 5-0 in 2000 for their best time November all-time record. Maryland has posted at least one win every year it has played a game in that month except the 1998-99 campaign (0-4).
* Maryland's all-time record in November is 55-19.
Terps Receive Votes in Weekly Poll
* Maryland is receiving votes in the Nov. 24 AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll. The Terps got off to their best start in four years, going 4-0.
Terps capture Classic Crown
* With wins over Sacred Heart and Maryland-Eastern Shore, Maryland captured its home tournament title, winning the Terrapin Classic. The Terps win the title for the fourth time in the five-year existence of the tournament and improve their all-time record in the Terrapin Classic to 9-1.
* The Pioneers fell victim to the Terps on the first day of the tournament, 90-49. The next day, Maryland eclipsed the 90-point mark for the second time, downing UMES, 97-65. It was the first time since 1992 the Terps posted back-to-back 90-point outings.
Fisher Shines at Terp Classic; Three Other Terps Earn All-Tourney
* Sophomore Chrissy Fisher was named Most Valuable Player of the Terrapin Classic, helping the Terps to the tournament title. Fisher had 13 points and five rebounds against the Pioneers and was even better against UMES, posting her first-career double-double in the first half, en route to 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. She also shot .500 from the field, going 12-for-24.
* Three other Terps earned tournament honors, as well. Seniors Delvona Oliver and Crystal Washington and freshman Shay Doron were named All-Terrapin Classic. Doron led the tournament in points (37), field goals made (15) and three-pointers made (4). She also shot an outstanding .625 from the field.
* Washington averaged 15.5 points per game over the two games and 6.5 rebounds. She also had a career-high three blocks in the win over UMES.
* Oliver shot .647 (11-for-17) from the field over the two games, leading all players in the tournament. She posted her first-career double-double as a Terp in the win over Sacred Heart with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Doron Sets Record, Ties NCAA Mark
* In her first-collegiate game, freshman Shay Doron made 23 free throws in the 79-64 win over Coppin State, tying the NCAA record for makes and breaking the ACC and Maryland records. Her 27 attempts were also a conference and school records.
Washington's Career night Helps Terps to Early Win
* Senior Crystal Washington scored Maryland's first eight points in the game against Niagara, en route to a career-high 18 points. She also grabbed a career-best 10 boards, posting her first-career double-double, to lead the Terps to an 82-74 win over the Purple Eagles.
Turtle Tracks...
* All five starters scored in double-figures in the 76-61 win over Loyola. Senior Crystal Washington and freshman Shay Doron paved the way, eaching scoring a game-highs 14 points.
* Maryland's four freshmen scored in double-figures to lead the Terps to a 72-38 rout of UMBC. Rookie C'Vette Henson tallied a career-high 12 points to lead all scorers.
* Freshman Kalika France has pulled down five or more rebounds in four of Maryland's nine games. She grabbed a season-high 10 in her first-collegiate game vs. Coppin State.
* Expected to make an immediate impact this season, freshmen Kalika France and Shay Doron have accounted for a third of the team's points. Doron has reached double-digit scoring seven times, reaching the 20-point plateau twice. France has scored in double-figures five times. Both lead the team in scoring (Doron - 14.0 ppg; France - 10.6 ppg)
* Senior Crystal Washington has already surpassed her point total from a year ago. This season, she has netted 86 points, topping the 55 points she scored in 15 games last season. Prior to this year, Washington had never started in a game.
* Washington's team-leading 14 blocks is six more than she had last season. She is rapidly approaching her career-high of 16 which she set during the 2000-01 season. She is currently third in the ACC with 1.56 blocks per game.
* Junior transfer Alli Spence's career-high 22 points vs. No. 8/8 Penn State was more than she scored in the first four games of the season (20 points). She then dropped 19 points at St. Bonaventure for her first back-to-back double-digit outings of the season.
* Junior transfer Alli Spence has been red hot from three-point land. A career .328 shooter from behind the arc while at Old Dominion, she leads the ACC with a .533 three-point shooting percentage. As of Dec. 15, she is tied for 19th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage.
* The Terps' 6-1 start this year was their best since going 7-0 in 1991-92. That year, Maryland finished 25-6 overall and 13-1 in the ACC, reaching the NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional. The Terps also went 6-1 in 1992-93 and 2000-01.
* In head coach Brenda Frese's second season, the Terps are already seeing improvement. Maryland is scoring more (74.3 vs. 67.4), shooting better from the field (.458 vs. .414) and from three-point land (.446 vs. 316). The Terps have also seen a lot of improvement from the charity stripe, leading the ACC at .729. Last year, they were second-to-last in that category in the conference at .616. The Terps' 7-2 record is also better than they were last season in their first nine games of the year, going 5-4.
Top Recruits Sign with Maryland
* Head coach Brenda Frese announced the signing of four of the nation's top recruits, bringing even more excitement to the New Era of Women's Basketball as the Terps look to return to national prominence. Laura Harper, Crystal Langhorne, Jade Perry and Ashleigh Newman have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball in College Park beginning the 2004-05 season. Full bios and list of accomplishments can be found on www.umterps.com.
Maryland on the Tube
* The Terps will make at least six television appearances this season as part of the ACC women's basketball schedule. Maryland's first televised contest is against Virginia in Comcast Center on Jan. 4.
Terps on the Airwaves
* For the second-straight year nearly every Maryland women's basketball game can be heard over the radio airwaves either by the Terrapin Sports Network or by Maryland's student radio station, WMUC. Voice of the Terps Johnny Holliday returns as play-by-play announcer on the Terrapin Sports Network and will be announcing six of the Terps' games.
* Games airing on the Terrapins Sports Network can be heard on affiliates throughout Maryland and Baltimore areas. Maryland home and road games broadcast by WMUC can be heard on 88.1 FM as well as on the web at www.wmuc.com and www.wmucsports.com.
Up Next
* The Terps will play host San Deigo or Georgetown on Tuesday, Dec. 30, to close out the Surf-N-Slam Tournament and their non-conference slate. Maryland opens ACC action on Friday, Jan. 2 hosting NC State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
