Sept. 17, 2009
Photo Gallery
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
On the same day she was awarded the WNBA's Most Improved Player award, former Maryland great Crystal Langhorne led the Washington Mystics with 18 points and 10 rebounds in her homecoming to Maryland, as the Mystics fell to the Indiana Fever, 88-79, Thursday evening at Comcast Center in the first game of their playoff series.
Marissa Coleman, Langhorne's Maryland teammate from 2006-08, also put up big numbers in her return to Comcast Center, pouring in 16 points and eight rebounds for the Mystics, making a couple big 3-pointers late in the game.
Despite Washington's loss, the game served as a shining moment for Maryland women's basketball. The game was moved to Comcast Center due to a scheduling conflict at Washington's home arena, Verizon Center, and the University jumped on the chance to showcase its basketball home.
A nationally-televised audience had a chance to take in the game on ESPN2, as scenes of Langhorne and Coleman's honored jerseys were shown hanging from the rafters.
Fittingly, Langhorne scored Washington's first bucket on a driving lay-up less than a minute into the game, much to the delight of the home fans. Langhorne scored six of the Mystics' first nine points, helping lead Washington to a four-point lead after one quarter.
Coleman swished a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter en route to her 16-point performance, which more than tripled her season scoring average.
Watching her former pupils from an unfamiliar position in the stands instead of the bench, Maryland head coach Brenda Frese received TV airtime during a live, in-game interview with ESPN's Rebecca Lobo during the second quarter.
"This is extremely special. Who would have thought we'd get to watch a WNBA playoff game here on our home court at Comcast Center," Frese said. "We're just so thrilled to be able to sit here and watch Marissa and Crystal in the first round of the playoffs."
Current WNBA players Kristi Toliver (Chicago Sky) and Laura Harper (Sacramento Monarchs) were also in-house to encourage their teammates from the 2006 national championship team.
Spurred on by the home crowd, the Mystics played well against the Eastern Conference's top seed, taking a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.
However, the Fever began the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to begin to pull away. Down nine with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game, Coleman brought back some of her old college magic, draining a long 3-pointer to bring the home team within six and energize the crowd.
The Mystics got within three points with 1:59 remaining, but, could get no closer. Game 2 is Saturday at Indiana and Game 3 will be in Indianapolis Monday, if necessary.
Prior to the game, Langhorne experienced the familiar feeling of being presented with a major award at center court of Comcast Center, as she was presented the 2009 WNBA Most Improved Player award, presented by Kia Motors.
Langhorne nearly tripled her scoring average from 4.8 in 2008 to 12.0 this season, while doubling her rebounding average from 4.0 to 7.9. Langhorne was the third-leading rebounder in the entire WNBA and finished second in offensive rebounding.
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