Dec. 3, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
In the midst of a seven-game stretch away from the Comcast Center, the Maryland women's basketball team will look to help keep the Atlantic Coast Conference on top in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge when it travels to Purdue on Thursday. The Terrapins and Boilermakers are set to tip off at 6:30 p.m., with the action to be covered live on the Big Ten Network and WMUC Sports.
Maryland is coming off a 3-0 stay at the Cancun Caribbean Challenge, where it defeated South Dakota State, Montana and Illinois on successive days. Maryland played one of its most complete games of the season in the finale against Illinois, defeating the Illini 79-52. The Terps caused 20 Illinois turnovers thanks to a fast-paced, aggressive defense which led to a plethora of transition points.
The Terps were led by seniors Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman all week, as the two scored 44 and 43 points, respectively. Toliver, who also dished out 13 assists, moved into eighth place on the Terrapins' all-time scoring list during the week, passing Deedee Warley and Deanna Tate. Toliver now sits with 1,548 points.
Coleman also moved her way up the Maryland scoring chart. The senior from Cheltenham, Md. moved into fifth place, passing Marcia Richardson during the win over South Dakota State. Coleman now has 1,659 points, just 20 behind Christy Winters for fourth place all time.
The players were not the only ones reaching milestones in Cancun. With the 71-58 victory over Montana, head coach Brenda Frese earned her 150th victory as the head coach of the University of Maryland. Frese, who sits behind only Chris Weller (499-286) in Maryland history, became the fifth active ACC coach with at least 150 career wins at their current school.
Thursday's test will be a big one for the young Terps, who have only played a true road game once thus far this season. Maryland fell at TCU, 80-68, in the season opener. Purdue, ranked No. 17 by the AP and No. 20 by ESPN/USA Today, is also the first ranked team that Maryland has faced thus far this season.
Maryland, which started the season ranked No. 3 but fell after the loss to TCU, has climbed back up to No. 8 in the country as chosen by the Associated Press. The Terps are No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
To continue its wininng ways, Maryland will need continued strong performances by reserves such as sophomore Drey Mingo and redshirt freshman Anjalé Barrett. Aided by an 8-for-8 day at the free throw line, Mingo tallied a season-best 11 points against Illinois, and has scored 20 in her last two outings. Barrett, who missed last season due to injury, provided strong defense while spelling Toliver, and scored a personal-best six points against Montana on Wednesday.
Maryland and Purdue will tip things off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Mackey Arena. Fans can follow the action on television on the Big Ten Network, and on the radio on WMUC Sports.com. Audio links are available here at UMTerps.com.
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