Maryland Women's Basketball Earns High Rankings in Early Polls
9/25/2007 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 25, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Early national publications have hit the newsstands and the Maryland women's basketball team figures prominently in the national previews. Lindy's College Basketball Preview and Women's Basketball Magazine have the Terps ranked fourth in its preseason poll, while Athlon's Sports have tabbed the team fifth. Senior Crystal Langhorne and junior Marissa Coleman also received preseason recognition.
Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) was recognized as a preseason All-American by all three magazines. Lindy's and Women's Basketball each had the senior on the first team, while Athlon's had her on the second team. Langhorne was the team's leading scorer and rebounder on the team last year and is a two-time Associated Press and United State Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-American. Last season, she was also selected a WBCA All-American.
Marissa Coleman (Cheltenham, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) was also tabbed a preseason All-American by Lindy's and was named to the third team. Coleman is a two-time second team All-ACC honoree and was an Honorable Mention All-American by the AP last season.
The Terrapins were the highest-ranked ACC team in all three polls. 2007 NCAA Champion Tennessee, Connecticut, LSU and NCAA Runner-Up Rutgers were also unanimous top-five picks, as well. Maryland will face Rutgers on Dec. 3 for the Jimmy V Classic and could possibly face LSU in the Preseason WNIT.
Coming off a 28-6 season and with four starters back, Maryland returns ready to make another run at a National Championship. Also returning is third team All-ACC pick and Nancy Lieberman Award finalist Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) and senior Laura Harper (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham), who was the 2006 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Despite the loss of Shay Doron, who graduated last May and left College Park as the program's second all-time leading scorer tallying 1,878 career points, the Terps return 83.1 percent of last year's scoring and 86.6 percent of their rebounding.
The Terps go up against a challenging schedule this season, beginning with an exhibition game against the U.S. Women's Basketball National Team on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Nine of this season's opponents appeared in at least one of the three preseason polls, with possible opponent Michigan State and Notre Dame also garnering top-25 nods in the rankings.
Season ticket packages are currently available for purchase through the Terrapin Ticket Office in Comcast Center by calling 1-800-IM-A-TERP or purchasing online at www.umterps.com or by stopping by in person. Single-game tickets for the USA Basketball exhibition game are also available.
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