Maryland Women's Basketball Opens 2004-05 Season
11/18/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Game Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
#24/24 MARYLAND TERRAPINS
GAME 1: at Appalachian State
Friday, Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m.
Holmes Center (8,325), Boone, N.C.
GAME 2: vs. Siena
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2:00 p.m
.
Comcast Center (17,950), College Park, Md.
Radio: WMUC Radio 88.1 FM
Internet: www.umterps.com and www.wmucsports.com.
QUICK HITS
• Terps open 2004-05 season at Appalachian State and the home slate vs. Siena.
• Terps have earned top 25 preseason rankings in three preseason polls. Maryland was rated No. 12 by Athlon Magazine and is No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches and Associated Press Polls this week. • The 2004-05 Terps are third-youngest team, based on eligibility, in the program's history.
• Head coach Brenda Frese embarks on her third season with the Maryland Terrapins after leading the Terps to a surprising third-place finish in the ACC standings and a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Terps Open 2004-05 Season
• No. 24/24 Maryland opens the 2004-05 slate this weekend. The Terrapins travel to Boone, N.C., to face Appalachian State on Friday, Nov. 19 and then come home for the first time to host Siena, Sunday, Nov. 21.
• The Terrapins have won their last five-straight opening games and look to extend that streak when it battles the Mountaineers. Maryland is 27-16 all-time in season openers. It is only the second meeting between Appalachian State and the Terps and the first ever meeting vs. Siena.
• The games will also mark the start of the season for both squads.
Last Time Out
• The Terps hosted a preseason tune-up vs. UMMC Ekaterinburg from Russia. Three Terrapins scored in double figures with freshman Crystal Langhorne leading the way with 21 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Shay Doron contributed 19 points and classmate Kalika France added 13. Junior Charmaine Carr tied with Langhorne for a team-best nine boards.
• Maryland never trailed, leading by as many as 18 points in the first half and 47-31 at the break. The Terps built that lead to as many as 37 points with 11:31 left to play in the game. UMMC Ekaterinburg shot 54.8 percent from the field in the second half, including a 5-for-8 outing from behind the three-point arc. However, the Terps were able to hold on for the win down the stretch, 88-79.
Head Coach Brenda Frese
• Entering her third season at the Maryland helm, head coach Brenda Frese has revitalized the Terrapin women's basketball program. After signing two-straight top-five recruiting classes, the rebuilding of the Maryland squad has been put on the fast track. In what was supposed to be year two of the rebuilding process, Frese guided the Terps to a tie for third place in the ACC last year after a preseason eighth-place prediction and also led the team to its first NCAA Tournament win in 12 years when it upset Miami (Fla.) in the first round, 86-85.
• Frese is a 1993 graduate of Arizona and has compiled a 28-31 record in two seasons at College Park. She has also put together an 85-61 mark in six season as head coach.
Terps in the Polls
• The young Maryland Terrapins are ranked 24th in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls. Heading into their first game of the season, the Terps' rating is bolstered by the return of three starters, including sophomore sensations Shay Doron and Kalika France, and the addition of the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation.
About Appalachian State
• The Mountaineers open the new season when they host the Terps. Last year, Appalachian State went 7-21 head coach Adrienne Shuler's second season. The team, who also went 6-16 in the Southern Conference and placed ninth, returns three starters and nine letterwinners.
• Of the returnees, Appalachian State brings back two of its top three scorers, including Kiki Conyers who averaged 11.0 points per game, one of just two players on the squad to average double-figuring scoring. The 2003 SoCon Freshman of the Year, she was named to the conference's Preseason All-SoCon team.
Series vs. Appalachian State
• The only meeting between the teams was a 100-71 Maryland win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 14, 1990. The game was played in College Park.
About Siena
• A preseason fourth pick in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Siena was 17-11 overall last year, tying for the regular season conference title with a 13-5 record, its fourth-consecutive MAAC title. The Saints, however, return just one starter from that squad and five overall. The Saints are under the direction of 14th-year head coach Gina Castelli.
• The Saints come into Sunday's contest having defeated the National Women's Basketball League, 97-57, in an exhibition match. Katelyn Dooley is the team's top-returning scorer. She averaged 7.5 points per game as a sophomore, however, in the exhibition match, she paced the Saints' offense with 23 points.
Series Vs. Siena
• Sunday's meeting is the first between the teams.
Maryland Picked Third in ACC Preseason Poll
• After being picked to finish eighth in the previous two Preseason ACC Media Polls, the Terps jumped five spaces to third in the 2004-05 version. Last year, Maryland ended the season in a surprising third-place tie with NC State.
• North Carolina was predicted to end Duke's six-year stranglehold on the ACC regular-season title, while the Blue Devils were picked to place second in the league. League newcomers Virginia Tech and Miami round out the top five, respectively.
Terrapins 12th in Athlon Poll
• Maryland was 12th in this year's Athlon College Basketball Annual, the Terps' highest preseason ranking. Only three ACC teams were among the preseason top 25. North Carolina was seventh in the poll while Duke was ninth.
Doron Earns Preseason Honors
• Doron, who was the first Terrapin freshman to ever earn All-ACC honors, was named to the Naismith Player of the Year watch list. In addition, Street & Smith's selected Doron a Honorable Metion All-American in its college basketball preview edition. She was also voted to the Preseason All-ACC squad at the ACC's Media Day.
Langhorne Selected Preseason Rookie of the Year
• Newcomer Crystal Langhorne became the first-ever Terrapin to be named ACC Rookie of the Year when it was announced at ACC Media Day. Langhorne was rated the top post player in the nation last year according to the All-Star Girls Report and was a McDonald's, Parade, Street & Smith's and WBCA All-American.
Harper Claims Gold
• Before coming to College Park, freshman Laura Harper traveled to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as a member of the U.S. Junior Women's Basketball team. She helped the Stars & Stripes to a perfect 6-0 record at the Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament as the USA claimed the gold medal.
Who's Back
• Seven letterwinners return from last season's 18-13 squad. Among them are returning starters senior Anesia Smith and sophomores Shay Doron and Kalika France. Smith is the most experienced Terp on the team and is the incumbent at the point guard position having emerged as the team's leader. Doron and France also look to fulfill leadership roles this season as the two top-returning scorers. France also led the team in rebounding last year.
• Also coming back to the Comcast Center hardwood are juniors Charmaine Carr and Angel Ross, and sophomores Aurelie Noirez and C'Vette Henson. Noirez played every game after sitting out the first eight games of the season while the NCAA determined her international eligibility status. Carr will make contributions at a new position as she will play the swing forward spot. Ross and C'Vette will also push for playing time at the post and guard spots, respectively.
Who's Not
• The Terps have to contend with the loss of post players Delvona Oliver and Crystal Washington. Oliver was an Honorable Mention All-ACC pick and earned a spot on the ACC All-Tournament second team. Washington had a breakout season last year, starting every game and leading the team in blocks.
• After a successful four-year career, Vicki Brick left her mark in the Maryland record books, ranking in the top 10 in assists and steals.
• The Terps who were the top three-point shooting team in the ACC, will be hurt by the departures of Alli Spence and Chrissy Fisher. Spence set the single-season school record for three-point percentage, shooting at a .500 clip. Fisher was seventh in the ACC in three-point shooting and 10th with 1.23 treys made per game.
Five New Faces Join Squad
• The No. 2 recruiting class in the nation consists of three post players and a guard. Crystal Langhorne, Laura Harper and Jade Perry will have to fill the void left behind by Delvona Oliver and Crystal Washington. All three have successful prep experience and will make an immediate impact. The only guard in the class, Ashleigh Newman is a versatile player who adds depth to the backcourt and will push for playing time. Senior transfer Liz Gilchrist comes to Maryland after spending three seasons at Division-III Washington College where she was named Honorable Mention All-Centennial Conference in her last season there.
Frese Signs Recruits
• Head coach Brenda Frese announced the signing of two of the nation's top recruits. High school seniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at the University of Maryland beginning 2005-06. The Blue Star report rated this class the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation, making it the second-straight year Frese has secured a top-five recruiting class.
Up Next
• Terps face an early test over the Thanksgiving weekend when they travel to the Coors Classic in Boulder, Colo. Maryland opens the tournament against 2004 Final Four participant LSU on Nov. 26. The game will also be a rematch of the 2004 NCAA Tournament second round game between Maryland and LSU. LSU eliminated the Terps from the postseason tournament, 76-61. Maryland faces host Colorado or Pennsylvania on Nov. 27.
