Feb. 13, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After coming off its biggest upset in 13 years, the Maryland women's basketball team earned a No. 4 national ranking in this week's Associated Press poll, earning its first top-five rating since Jan. 12, 1993. After beating then-No. 1 and then-undefeated North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., last Thursday in overtime, 98-95, the Terps also garnered two first-place votes.

The Terps, who are 9-1 in the ACC, a half game back of first-place UNC, face the new No. 1 ranked squad in the nation in Duke, traveling to Durham, N.C., tonight. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and can be heard on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network. Maryland has spent the entire season ranked in the top 15, and the top 10 the last 13 weeks.

Maryland is 22-2 on the season, heading into tonight's game. Its only two losses have come to teams who have been ranked No. 1 at some point during the season (Tennessee, Duke).

The Blue Devils return to the No. 1 spot in the poll, while North Carolina dropped to the third spot. Tennessee remains at No. 5, while Boston College is 18th. The Terps defeated Michigan State, who is ranked 14th this week, at the Paradise Jam.

Maryland ends its three-game stretch of playing ranked opponents when it hosts No. 18 BC on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available online at www.umterps.com or can be purchased at the Comcast Center Ticket Office at 1-800-IMA-TERP.

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