Jan. 10, 2010
Game Notes 
| View live on ESPN360.com
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland continues its start of conference play on the road with a trip to Charlottesville, Va., as they face No. 21/19 Virginia on January 11th as a part of ESPN2's Big Monday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
The Terrapins (12-3 overall, 0-1 ACC), who are receiving votes in both national polls, are coming off of a tough loss to N.C. State in the conference opener Thursday night. Two players notched double-figure points in the loss, Lori Bjork and Diandra Tchatchouang, who each registered 10. Tchatchouang also led the team in rebounds with eight.
Tchatchouang leads the Terps in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game. The La Courneuve, France, native has recorded double-digit points in 13 games, 10 consecutive, and leads all freshmen in the conference in scoring.
The Terrapins have out-rebounded their opponent in all but two games this season (Mississippi State and N.C. State). Their efficiency under the basket has them ranked No. 2 in the ACC in rebounding margin (+11.6). Defensively, the Terps rank No. 3 in defensive rebounds averaging 29.3 per game. Freshman Tianna Hawkins leads the team in defensive boards with 69 total and averages 8.4 rebounds a contest. The Terrapins also rank second in defensive rebounding percentage (.716).
Maryland has started three freshmen in three of their last five games. Tchatchouang has been the constant, starting all 15 games the Terrapins have played in. The Terps are one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the nation. Nine of 10 active players on the roster are underclassmen. The lone veteran is Bjork, a senior transfer from Illinois in her first year in a Maryland uniform. The Terps are replacing 77 percent of its scoring and 74 percent of its rebounding from last year's ACC championship team.
Virginia (11-4, 0-1) also has nine freshmen and sophomores but is also armed with three experienced juniors and seniors. The Cavaliers' starting lineup consists of one senior, one junior, two sophomores and one freshman. Senior Monica Wright leads the squad averaging 20.9 points per game, which ranks second in the ACC and 10th in the nation. Her steals per game average, 4.0, ranks first in the league and second in the nation. Wright was selected as the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
Virginia also fell in their conference opener to Florida State who trumped the Cavaliers, 68-50. UVA is 49-13 in its fourth season in John Paul Jones Arena.
Virginia owns the all-time series record advantage, 41-30; however the Terrapins have walked away with victories in seven of their last eight meetings with the Cavaliers. Maryland defeated UVA last year 94-78 in College Park.
The game is a part of ESPN's women's college basketball prime-time Game of the Week series. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Carolyn Peck (color analyst) and Rebecca Lobo (sideline reporter) have the call.
The game may also be viewed online via ESPN360.com and is available free of charge to all students who get their high-speed Internet access through the on-campus network, to anyone getting their high-speed Internet through one of ESPN's affiliated ISPs, and to U.S.-based military personnel who access the Internet via on-base servers.
Terrapin Sports Radio Network will also provide analysis and color of the action with Matt Noble and Dave Preston.
The Terps return home Thursday, Jan. 14 to host Boston College. Single-game and season ticket packages are available for purchase online at umterps.com or by calling the Terrapin Ticket Office at 1-800-IM-A-TERP.
