#6: Terps Take Jackets for 10th ACC Title
7/27/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 27, 2012
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After the graduation of the group that won the 2006 NCAA title and the 2009 ACC title, Brenda Frese's Terrapins had to "reload," a term she used often when referring to her next generation of stars. Her next generation firmly established Maryland back as a national power with the program's 10th ACC title in March 2012.
It was Coach Frese's second ACC title and a new experience as she watched a second group of players experience the thrill of being champions.
"The neat thing for me was that having already won an ACC Tournament, what I really enjoyed was watching other people have that incredible experience," Frese said. So while I was incredibly happy when we won and the balloons and confetti were falling, I was really able to look around and see how happy our players, staff, fans, etc. were at that moment. Seeing people I care about enjoy that moment feels every bit as wonderful as how I felt the first time."
In the fall of 2010, a group of freshmen stepped onto campus that many hoped would help bring the Terrapins back to the level of conference and national prominence they had held just a few short years ago. The freshmen were named the No. 2 recruiting class in the country. As Terrapin fans met and became familiar with the new faces of Maryland women's basketball, they watched the young Terps gel and see success early on. They went through their growing pains, but saw a successful 2010-11 season.
Entering 2011-12, it was time to bring the Terrapins back to the top of the top. A 16-0 start to the season and a 12-4 ACC record was superb by all standards.
Entering the ACC Tournament in March, the Terps saw they could take the whole thing. They beat Virginia in their opening game, then No. 2 Miami was upset, so the Terps took on Wake Forest. They won 73-58 to head right into the ACC Title game against a team they'd had tight run-ins with in the last few years - Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets were experienced, tough, physical and hungry. In February 2011, the Terrapins won at Georgia Tech off a buzzer-beater by Kim Rodgers. They had beaten the Terps in the second round of the 2011 ACC Tournament. In 2012, Maryland rallied from a 20-point deficit to win back in January. A month after that, Tianna Hawkins went 11-for-13 from the field and she and Alyssa Thomas put up 23 points apiece for the win at Georgia Tech. Every game with the Jackets was tough and came down to the wire.
This one was no exception. The lead changed 11 times and they saw four ties. The Jackets never led by more than four, but held a two-point lead with just over two minutes to go. A quick jumper from senior Lynetta Kizer and a layup by senior Anjale Barrett gave the Terps the lead for good.
Sophomore ACC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Alyssa Thomas put in a career-high 29 points. Senior Kim Rodgers went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from outside the arc for 10 points. It was a true team effort.
"We knew the game was going to be a battle. That's just how it is between Maryland and Georgia Tech," Frese said. "Alyssa Thomas played like the tournament MVP from the tip. She scored 10 of our first 12 points. Some of our other players got off to slow starts and Tianna Hawkins picked up some fouls. You can call it coach's instinct or gut feel or whatever, but something told me to go with Kim Rodgers. It was a one point game at 51-50 when she hit back to back three pointers in about :20 seconds. All the sudden we had a seven-point lead. It was like déjà vu from her freshman season when she was clutch in the ACC Tournament. In this game, a bit earlier, she took a hard foul and then went calmly to the free throw line and knocked down the shots. That made me feel like Kim was ready to play."
"Not surprisingly, Georgia Tech didn't go away. Fortunately, our other two seniors were able to make big plays down the stretch for us. We were down 63-61 with under 2:00 to play when Lynetta Kizer made what might've been her best post move of the season. Then off a turnover, Anjale Barrett made a really aggressive play, going coast to coast through traffic for a layup. Anj was always at her best when she attacked like that and we needed that play from her."
After the Terps won, they ran out onto the court as the buzzer sounded, and were surrounded by balloons and confetti from falling from the ceiling.
"The celebration was great. Our players love the confetti and balloons like they're little kids. The joy is awesome to see," Frese said. "After I cut the last strands on the first net, I took it and placed it around Alyssa Thomas's neck. I did that with Crystal Langhorne in Boston after the national championship and with Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman after the 2009 ACC Championship. Alyssa wore it for a few minutes and then took it and placed it around Anjale Barrett's neck. That's just who Alyssa is and even though she's a legitimate superstar, she's incredibly unselfish. She would give or sacrifice anything for her team. Anjale was crying after that gesture. I hope she has that net in a special place."
The young Terps had grown up...together as a team.
