Dec. 29, 2007

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Maryland Head Coach Brenda Frese
Opening statement:
"You're always a little rusty this time of year [after the holiday break]. I liked how we came out with our intensity defensively from the start and carried that throughout the game. Richmond was a very scrappy, aggressive team, but I liked how unselfish we were as a team and with how we really tried to execute what we wanted to get done today."

On the team coming off of the holiday break:
"You always worry after the break, but I was encouraged given the three practices we had leading up to this. We took great responsibility with the time we had off by staying in the gym, so I really didn't see the signs of rust that you usually see. I really thought we came back in tremendous shape. For us, it's been to have that break and get reenergized and refreshed and to actually have some practice time."

On the team's 12-0 run late in the first half:
"I thought our defensive intensity was great. When we play like that and we consistently play like that, there's no team in the country that's going to be able to score off of us. Those are the kind of runs we want to be consistent with in our patterns, with what we're doing defensively."

Maryland junior Kristi Toliver
On feeling rusty after the holiday break:
"We didn't really feel rusty. We just came out with a lot of energy. I think a lot of us still worked over break individually over the five days we had at home. We just got back on the floor and it was a good game to come back with."

Maryland senior Crystal Langhorne
On starting ACC play next week:
"I think we're really excited. Our preseason has prepared us. The ACC is what we play for and I know our team is really excited about it."

On if she feels 100 percent after her injury:
"I'm feeling a lot better. I think the break helped me out a lot. I'm still getting there, but I feel a lot better."

Maryland junior Marissa Coleman
On if they were expecting a big win today:
"I knew if we came out and played our style of basketball and kept the tempo going that we could have a commanding lead. We don't enter games saying we're going to win by a certain amount of points because that's when let-downs happen. We just try to play our style of basketball and get back to little things."

Richmond head coach Michael Shafer
Opening statement
"I thought we competed really very hard. Our kids came in here and tried to match the physicality of the game and we played as hard as we could. Obviously, we fouled way too much and put them on the free-throw line. When you're guarding a basketball team that has five scorers, legitimate All-American scorers at every position, you get yourself in positions where it's difficult to be in that position and it's difficult to combat the strengths that Maryland has. There is not anybody that is weak that you can play off of and Maryland gives you that with their starting five. They are a really balanced team."

On the impact of Maryland center Crystal Langhorne:
"The Maryland Terrapins are a national championship contender with [Crystal] Langhorne. She is a difference maker. She is an incredible force inside the paint. They've got so many scorers. Langhorne doesn't have to score. She can give it to Toliver or Harper or anybody. She just brings another dimension to this Maryland team."

On Maryland forward Marissa Coleman:
"Marissa Coleman presents a problem because of her size and her strength. Marissa on the perimeter, having that type of size, will shoot over you easily and is able to rebound the basketball like she did tonight. She presents a mismatch problem, especially for a team as small as we are on the perimeter."

Richmond freshmen Brittani Shells
On playing the Terrapins:
"It was a great experience. Back in high school, you watch teams on television and Maryland was one of them and I remember watching them winning the championship. I thought it would be great to play them and I got my wish. Playing Maryland was a great opportunity."