Nov. 1, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terrapin women's basketball team was ranked fourth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll, which was released Wednesday. It is the second-straight year Maryland has been ranked in the top five in the preseason poll.

The Terps return four starters and eight letterwinners overall from last season's squad, which went 28-6 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-consecutive year. Among the returnees are preseason ACC Player of the Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro), and 2007 All-ACC honorees Marissa Coleman (Cheltenham, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) and Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg). All three have been named to the State Farm/WBCA Wade Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award national player of the year preseason candidates.

Eight Maryland opponents also appear in the top 25 poll. The Terps face top-10 foes Rutgers (#3) and Oklahoma (#6). Conference rivals North Carolina (#7) and Duke (#9) were also among the top 10. The team also battles No. 16 Ohio State, No. 19 Florida State, No. 21 Pittsburgh and No. 25 NC State. Fifth-ranked LSU and 18th-ranked Michigan State are possible opponents and could face the Terrapins in the Preseason WNIT.

Other opponents who were not in the top 25 poll but received votes were Middle Tennessee State, Georgia Tech, UCLA and Temple. Notre Dame, TCU and Western Kentucky, participants in the Preseason WNIT, also garnered votes.

The Terps are coming off a 90-73 loss in an exhibition game against the U.S. National Team. Despite facing 10 WNBA players and some of the most well-known names in women's basketball, like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Swin Cash, Maryland outrebounded the U.S., 40-34, and were within two points at halftime.

Maryland opens the season hosting Princeton in the first round of the Preseason WNIT on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.umterps.com or call the Comcast Center Ticket Office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP.

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