Oct. 20, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland Women's Basketball team held its annual media day at the Comcast Center today. Head coach Brenda Frese addressed the media about the Terps' expectations for the upcoming season and the excitement surrounding the talented young team.

Here is what Coach Frese had to say at her press conference:

On expectations for the upcoming season:
"We are going into our third season now and it has all gone by really quick. We are extremely excited and really looking forward to the upcoming season. With the success from the NCAA tournament last season, we can really see a renewed sense of confidence. They are extremely energetic, they've worked really hard in the weight room and you are really able to see that paying off. You are seeing the expectations from them. They are hungrier and they know what to expect going into this season. Combine that with the No. 2 recruiting class in the country with our four young freshmen and you can see why we are so enthusiastic for the upcoming season."

On the team starting practice:
"After being involved in four days of practice, it has been a great thing for our staff to finally be on the court and working with them. I see us having a little more depth this year. We are going to be able to go seven or eight deep in our rotation. We have had some pleasant surprises from our returners this season, coming back with a renewed sense of confidence and we're looking forward to what that's going to bring. "

On the team's youth:
"As we go forward with the season, I still think that we need to be cautiously optimistic with this team. The reason I say that is because we are young. Eight of our 11 scholarship players are freshmen and sophomores. So although this is by far the most talent that we've had since I've been here, we have to keep in perspective that there are going to be four freshmen playing a substantial amount of time for us."

On the incoming freshmen:
"Like all freshmen have learning curves, they are going to have their moments. It's going to be an opportunity for our staff to be patient and be able to work them into the mix and understand that they are going to have some moments of some highs and some lows. I really see us being able to gel them together through the season and it is extremely exciting."

On the team's schedule early:
"We have a mixture of some games that are going to allow us to grow and develop together and then we have some competition that is really going to get us ready for ACC play. We've got two whole games to get us ready for a rematch LSU who ended our season last year in the NCAA tournament. We're going to be playing them in the opening round of the Colorado tournament. So we are going to see what we are made of that early in the season. We are excited to go on the road early, we have games at Xavier and at Arizona, so you are really going to see some competitive games and some games that are going to help us grow and prepare for ACC season play."

On returners Charmaine Carr and Aurelie Noirez:
"Two players that came off the bench for us that I've been really excited about are Charmaine Carr and Aurelie Noirez. They are really going to provide some depth for us this year. Charmaine has come back in tremendous shape. She is going to play more of a guard position for us this year. She worked tremendously hard in the off-season with her ball-handling and really a renewed sense of confidence. For being a junior, I've definitely been able to see leadership from her. Aurelie is someone who got off to a slow start last season. She had to sit out the first eight games of last season. This year, coming back as a sophomore, she knows what to expect. She spent the summer over in France and really worked on her game and developed. She has already been a tremendous boost to our post players. There are three freshmen inside that are having to work and are learning every day from her. She brings a tremendous amount of work ethic with her and she's extremely physical."

On Comcast Center being selected as a host site of the 2004 NCAA tournament:
"We are extremely excited. We feel very fortunate to be one of the schools hosting the NCAA tournament. Hopefully we will be playing here at home and be able to get the bid to stay at home. We are in a situation where we hope that our fans will come out and support this University and make it one of the best settings possible."

On returners Anesia Smith, Shay Doron and Kalika France:
"With one senior in Anesia Smith leading us at the point guard position, we are expecting a lot of good things from her and obviously from Shay Doron and Kalika France. They have the experience and they know what to expect even though they are only sophomores. I see tremendous growth in Shay in the leadership area. She's going to play some backup point guard for us as well and she's really starting to understand that role as well as Kalika. We will really be looking for those three, but there are going to be leaders who step up at different times."