April 13, 2008
PHOTO GALLERY
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland women's basketball team held its annual end-of-the-year banquet on Sunday afternoon at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center on campus. The team, along with hundreds of family, team and staff members celebrated the 2007-08 campaign, as well as, this year's senior class. The team also announced its year-end awards, including the team's Most Valuable Player honor, which was given to Crystal Langhorne, who displayed consistency and excellence on the court, staple trademarks of her career. Maryland alum and ESPN's Pam Ward emceed the event.
Maryland recorded its fourth-straight 20-win season, going 33-4, advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight, both accomplishments coming for the second time in three years, as well. Seniors Laura Harper (Elkins Park, Pa./Cheltenham), Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro), Jade Perry (Central City, Ky./Muhlenberg North) and Ashleigh Newman (Shelbyville, Tenn./Shelbyville Central) received the Career Achievement Award for posting a 117-24 career record and an 83.0 winning percentage, becoming the winningest class in Maryland women's basketball history.
Langhorne was named the team MVP after leading the squad with 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, both of which also ranked third in the ACC. She led the nation for the third year in a row with a 64.7 shooting percentage, the only player in NCAA history to lead the country in the category three times. The 2008 ACC Player of the Year, she was named an All-American by the Associated Press and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) for the third time and a WBCA/State Farm All-American for the second time. A four-time All-ACC pick, Langhorne leaves College Park as the program's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, also holding the ACC record for career shooting percentage at 65.2 percent. She was also drafted earlier this week by the WNBA's Washington Mystics and will be joining the U.S. National Team this week in Chicago for training camp prior to the team's competition in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament in Beijing, China.
Harper earned the team's Terp Award, given to the player who best demonstrates what it means to be a Maryland student-athlete on and off the court. Harper always displayed a "team first" attitude and played with passion and energy, logging career highs of 14.1 ppg and 8.5 rpg. She broke the school record for all-time blocks (198) and also leaves ranking in the top 15 in the scoring record books, tallying over 1,400, and fourth in rebounding with over 800 boards. An honorable mention AP All-American and a third-team All-ACC selection, Harper will join Langhorne on the U.S. National Team and was drafted by the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs.
An honorable mention All-American, as well as a three-time second team All-ACC honoree, junior Marissa Coleman (Cheltenham, Md./St. John's College [D.C.]) was presented with the Utility Award for her all-around play on the court. Coleman averaged 16.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, dished out over 100 assists, had 30 steals and shot better than 46 percent from the floor. She also shot 81.0 percent from the free throw line. Coleman became only the third player in ACC history to have 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 assists in their career.
All-American and first-team All-ACC selection junior Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) received the team's Most Assists honor after dishing out an ACC-record 275 helpers. She was tabbed the best point guard in the nation, earning the Nancy Lieberman Award. She was second on the team with 17.1 ppg, also leading the team with an 86.0 percent free throw shooting percentage to earn the team's Top Free Throw Shooting honor.
Team tri-captains Langhorne, Harper and Coleman were also recognized. Academic honors went to Langhorne, who is a two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, freshmen Kim Rodgers (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne), Marah Strickland (Mt. Airy, Md./Towson Catholic), Drey Mingo (Atlanta, Ga./Marist) and Kat Lyons (Kernersville, N.C./Bishop McGuinness) for earning at least a 3.0 grade point average.
The Courage Award went to Rodgers, freshman Anjalé Barrett (Bronx, N.Y./St. Michael Academy) and junior Christie Marrone (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. John Villa Academy) for battling through adversity despite injuries, which had sidelined each of them for the season. Marrone was also honored with the 2008 Senior Class. She has decided to forgo her final season at Maryland and will graduate at the end of the summer.
Strickland posted the team's highest three-point shooting percentage (40.7) to earn the team's award in the category and Harper also garnered the team's blocks honor, stuffing 48 shots this season.
Redshirt freshman Emery Wallace (Roanoke, Va./Hidden Valley) was presented with the team's Best Energy honor. Despite limited playing time, Wallace always displayed enthusiasm and support for the team. Mingo also received the team's Best Attitude honor for her positive demeanor in games and practices.
Tri-Captains: Crystal Langhorne, Laura Harper, Marissa Coleman
Academic Award: Crystal Langhorne, Kim Rodgers, Marah Strickland, Drey Mingo, Kat Lyons
Utility Award: Marissa Coleman
Courage Award: Kim Rodgers, Anjalé Barrett, Christie Marrone
TERP Award: Laura Harper
Single Season 3pt FG%: Marah Strickland
Most Assists: Kristi Toliver
Best Attitude: Drey Mingo
Top FT %: Kristi Toliver
Best Energy: Emery Wallace
Most Blocks: Laura Harper
Most Valuable Player: Crystal Langhorne
Career Achievement Award (Winningest Class): Crystal Langhorne, Laura Harper, Jade Perry, Ashleigh Newman
-TERPS-
