No. 14/15 Maryland Opens ACC Play Against Wake Forest

Jan. 7, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland women's basketball team will return home to Comcast Center on Thursday as they open up Atlantic Coast Conference play against Wake Forest. The Terrapins and Demon Deacons will tip off at 7 p.m. in the conference opener for both teams.

Maryland (12-2) comes into the game on a four-game winning streak. The Terps last played on Saturday at Richmond, where they overcame a five-point halftime deficit to take an 83-65 win. Maryland was buoyed by strong rebounding in the second half as junior Demauria Liles and freshman Lynetta Kizer each recorded double-doubles. Senior Kristi Toliver led all scorers with 21 points.

Senior Marissa Coleman (14) and sophomore Marah Strickland (12) rounded out five Terrapins in double figures. For the first time all year, every Terp who dressed for the game scored at least one point.

Wake Forest (12-1) has been one of the pleasant surprises of the young season. After finishing 2-12 in the league last season, tied for tenth, the Demon Deacons were picked to finish last in the ACC this year. Wake shot out of the starting blocks, though, winning their first 12 games before falling at Richmond on Tuesday. The hot start earned the Deacons a spot in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, ranked No. 25.

Maryland finished last season 13-1 in the ACC, second in the regular season. Expectations are high again this year, as the Terps were picked to finish second by league media in the preseason. The Terps swept the league's individual honors in the preseason, as Toliver was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, while Kizer earned ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year.

Maryland, which holds a 47-12 advantage in the all-time series with Wake Forest, opened its ACC slate against the Deacons last year with an 83-49 win in Winston-Salem. The Terps have won their last three conference openers.

Gametime is set for 7 p.m. The contest will be carried by the Terrapin Sports Radio Network, WMUC Sports at www.WMUCSports.com, and will be available at ACCSelect.com.

-TERPS-

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Players Mentioned

#25 Marissa Coleman: G/F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#20 Kristi Toliver: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#5 Marah Strickland: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#12 Lynetta Kizer: C; 6' 4"; Freshman

#13 Demauria Liles: F; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#25 Marissa Coleman
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G/F

#20 Kristi Toliver
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#5 Marah Strickland
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#12 Lynetta Kizer
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: C

#13 Demauria Liles
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F