Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face Loyola
11/29/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
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Loyola (0-2) VS. #22/22 MARYLAND (3-1)
Tuesday, November 30 • 7:00 p.m.
Comcast Center • College Park, Md.
QUICK HITS
• The Terps are 10-3 in non-conference games since Comcast Center opened in 2002-03 and have won 22 of 26 non-conference matchups at home the start of the 2000-01 campaign.
• Maryland is 73-9 all-time against teams from the Free State.
Terps Return Home to Face Loyola
• Maryland returns to Comcast Center to host in-state rival Loyola on Tuesday, Nov. 30. The Terps look to extend their win streak over the Greyhounds to six games.
• The Greyhounds are the second team from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to play Maryland this year. The Terps were a 73-52 winner over Siena on November 21.
• Maryland's average margin of victory over Loyola during its five-game winning streak is 16.4.
Last Time Out
• The Terps earned a split at the Coors Classic in Boulder, Colo., over the Thanksgiving weekend, suffering a close loss to second-ranked LSU, 64-51, but bouncing back to cruise to a 76-56 victory over Pennsylvania.
• Freshman Laura Harper had season highs of 17 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Terps in their attempt to upset the No. 2 Lady Tigers. The Terps, who are the only team so far this season to own a lead in the second half over LSU, jumped ahead, 39-37, with12:39 remaining in the game. However, the Lady Tigers surged back to take the lead. Maryland rallied to within three points in the final four minutes, but LSU pulled away in the end. Sophomore Shay Doron chipped in 14 points with nine coming from behind the three-point arc.
• Maryland bounced back to cruise to a 76-56 win over Pennsylvania on the second day of the tournament. Doron and freshman Crystal Langhorne scored 16 points each to pace the Terrapin attack. Freshman Jade Perry led the Terps with 10 rebounds while senior Anesia Smith dished out seven assists.
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 31-32 record in three seasons at College Park. She has also put together an 88-62 mark in six season as head coach.
Terps in the Polls
• The young Maryland Terrapins are ranked 22th in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls, moving up two spots in both polls. Facing their first ranked opponent 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.
• Maryland is scheduled to face four teams ranked in this week's national rankings, including second-ranked LSU. ACC foes North Carolina and Duke are rated in the top 10 in both rankings. Arizona, who entered the top 25 this week, hosts the Terrapins in late January for a nationally televised contest.
About Loyola
• Winless heading into Tuesday's contest, Loyola is 0-2, most recently falling to nearby American, 74-63, in overtime. The Eagles outscored the Greyhounds, 13-2, in the extra period as Loyola dropped its second game of the season. The Greyhounds lost their season opener to Delaware, 63-49.
• Loyola returns four starters from last season's 14-15 squad. The Greyhounds went 9-9 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to finish fifth. Three of the team's top scorer's from a year ago are among the returning starters, including juniors Katie Scherle, Lauren Troupe and Krystle Harrington. Jill Glessner, also a returning starter, leads the Greyhounds in scoring through two games this season with 11.5 points per game. Harrington is the only other player in averaging double figures at 10.0 ppg. Scherle is the team's leading rebounder at 5.0 rpg.
• The Greyhounds are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Candy Cage. A 1985 graduate of Winthrop College, she has compiled a 37-51 record in Baltimore, Md.
Series vs. Loyola
• Maryland leads the all-time series, 11-3, but the Terps have not lost to the Greyhounds in the last five meetings. Loyola's only win in College Park was a 57-50 win in 1997. Maryland's first ever game in Comcast Center, men's or women's, and first victory under current head coach Brenda Frese was against Loyola, 80-72. The series began in 1974, but the teams did not face one another again until 1990.
Terps vs. Free State Teams
• The Terrapins have dominated games vs. teams from the Free State, combining for a 73-9 all-time mark. The Terps have played 12 teams from their home state, with only four ever posting a win against the Terps.
• Of the nine all-time setbacks to Maryland teams, six came prior to the 1975-76 campaign. Towson has logged the most wins against the Terps. Loyola has three wins in the all-time series, winning in 1994, 1997 and 1998. Salisbury and Western Maryland (now McDaniel College) are the only other teams to post wins against UMCP, each recording one.
Harper Earns All-Tourney Nods
• Averaging 12.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over two games at the Coors Classic in Boulder, Colo., freshman Laura Harper was selected to the five-player all-tournament team as the Terps earned a split at the tournament.
• Harper posted her second-career double-double in the close loss to second-ranked LSU, leading the team with season-highs of 17 points and 16 rebounds. She also had three blocks in the game. In the win over Penn, she netted eight points and grabbed nine boards while also making three blocks.
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, garnering two first-place votes. 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.
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.
• Since 1991 when the preseason picks began, the preseason honoree has been the actual honoree seven times.
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.
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
• Maryland is back on the road, traveling to Xavier on Saturday, Dec. 4 for a 2 p.m. tip-off. It is the first-ever meeting between the teams.
