April 8, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
After recording one of the best seasons in recent memory, the Maryland women's basketball team was rewarded by receiving 11 votes in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
The Terps have made an impressive turnaround in only two seasons under head coach Brenda Frese, They earned their first NCAA Tournament berth in three years and won an NCAA Tournament contest for the first time in 12 years when the Terps topped then-No. 23 Miami (Fla.), 86-85, in the first round. After leading 28-27 at the break, Maryland fell to Final Four participant and third-ranked LSU, 76-61, in the second round.
A preseason eighth pick in an ACC media poll, Maryland tied for third in the conference with an 8-8 mark and reached the ACC Tournament semifinals for the first time in since 1998. Maryland's 18 wins on the season are the most since the 1996-97 campaign.
The Terps received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 four times this season. This is the first time Maryland has appeared in the Coaches Poll.
USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES POLL (FINAL)
Rank Team Record Pts Pvs
1. Connecticut(40) 30-4 1,000 6
2. Tennessee 31-3 959 3
3. LSU 27-8 895 19
4. Minnesota 25-9 883 22
5. Duke 30-4 787 1
6. Penn State 28-6 769 7
7. Stanford 27-7 759 8
8. Georgia 25-10 678 15
9. Purdue 29-4 644 2
10. Texas 30-5 630 4
11. Baylor 26-9 584 17
12. Louisiana Tech 29-3 580 5
13. Vanderbilt 26-8 521 14
14. Boston College 27-7 464 18
15. Kansas State 25-6 377 9
16. Houston 28-4 342 10
17. Texas Tech 25-8 314 12
18. Oklahoma 24-9 281 13
19. Santa Barbara 27-7 266 NR
20. Notre Dame 21-11 173 NR
21. North Carolina 24-7 167 11
22. TCU 25-7 157 20
23. Auburn 22-9 138 21
24. Colorado 22-8 119 16
25. DePaul 23-7 100 25
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Michigan State 73, Virginia Tech 67, UT-Chattanooga 43, Marquette 30, Ohio State 26, Middle Tenn. St. 22, Villanova 22, SMS 21, Florida 19, Miami 19, Arizona 12,
MARYLAND 11, Montana 11, Liberty 10, UCLA 7, Rutgers 6, Utah 5, Creighton 4, Old Dominion 4, West Virginia 1.
