University of Maryland Athletics

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland travels to the campus of Penn State University to begin its hunt for a national title this weekend. The Terps, who earned the second seed in the Albuquerque Regional, face #15-seed Sacred Heart on Sunday, March 19 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa. The game follows the #7-seed St. John's-#10-seed California matchup which tips off at noon. The Terps-Pioneers matchup will be televised nationally on ESPN.

At 28-4, Maryland is one win shy of the school record and making its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance under fourth-year head coach Brenda Frese. The Terps' No. 2 seed is its highest since the 1993 season.

Maryland has been resting since the ACC Tournament championship game on March 5. The Terps fell to No. 1 North Carolina, 91-80, the day after upsetting then-No. 2 Duke in the semifinals, 78-70. After the tournament, the Terps moved up to No. 3 in the nation rankings and finished in that spot in the Associated Press' final poll which was released earlier this week. It is the second time in school history they have ended the year ranked in the top five.

The Terps face Northeast Conference champion Sacred Heart, who is 26-4 heading into postseason action. The teams met one other time on the first day of the 2003 Terrapin Classic. Maryland routed the Pioneers, 90-49.

Also playing at Penn State are Missouri, Virginia Tech, Coppin State and Connecticut of the Bridgeport Regional. 10th-seeded Missouri and the seventh-seeded Hokies tip off at 7 p.m., then #15-seeded Eagles and the #2-seeded Huskies battle 30 minutes following.

Tickets to the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Penn State are still available for purchase at the PSU Ticket Office at 1-800-863-3336 or 814-865-5555. Practices on Saturday, March 18 are also free and open to the public. All games and practices take place at the Bryce Jordan Center.

For more information visit www.umterps.com or www.gopsusports.com.

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