COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With less than a month to go before the basketball season begins, the Maryland women's basketball team continues to receive high praises from various publications that have released their previews, earning as high as a No. 2 preseason ranking. Four Terrapins have also received individual recognition, including Crystal Langhorne, Marissa Coleman, Laura Harper and Kristi Toliver.

Returning eight letterwinners from last year's 28-6 squad, the Terrapins appear among the top five in numerous preseason predictions. CSTV.com has given Maryland its highest rating at No. 2. Sporting News' Preseason College Basketball Preview, as well as, SLAM Magazine's have the Terps third in their respective polls, while CBSSportsline.com Preview Magazine has tabbed the team fourth.

The latest top-five preseason ratings come after the Terps have already received high rankings from LIndy's College Basketball Preview (No. 4), Women's Basketball Magazine (No. 4) and Athlon Sports (No. 5).

Sporting News, CBSSportsline.com Magazine and CSTV.com each selected Preseason All-American teams, which lists at least three Terrapins. Senior Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) was named to CBSSportsline.com and Sporting News' first team, while CSTV.com placed her on its second team.

Senior Laura Harper (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham), and juniors Marissa Coleman (Cheltenham, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) and Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) were also named to the Sporting News Preseason All-American squad. Coleman and Harper were second team selections, while Toliver was put on the third team. Toliver was also placed on CSTV.com's third team, while Coleman and Harper were Honorable Mention picks by CSTV.com, as well.

Langhorne, Coleman and Toliver were named preseason State Farm/WBCA Wade Trophy national player of the year candidates in August.

Maryland hosts the U.S. National team for an exhibition game on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m., then opens the season hosting Princeton in the first round of the Preseason WNIT on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets to both games, as well as, single-game tickets for the rest of the season, are available by calling the Comcast Center Ticket Office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP or by visiting www.umterps.com.

Preseason Rankings
No. 2 - CSTV.com
No. 3 - Sporting News Magazine
No. 3 - SLAM Magazine
No. 4 - CBSSportsline.com Magazine
No. 4 - Lindy's College Basketball Annal
No. 4 - Women's Basketball Magazine
No. 5 - Athlon Sports

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