April 18, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
After winning the program's first-ever NCAA title, the Maryland women's basketball team was recently named the No. 1 team in the nation by GBall Magazine, a national women's basketball web publication. It is the second No. 1 ranking the Terps have earned after being unanimously selected as the nation's top team in the ESPN/USA Today Poll following the championship game. Terrapin head coach Brenda Frese was also tabbed its National Coach of the Year.
The Terps topped Duke, 78-75, in overtime on April 4 to capture the 2006 NCAA Championship. Maryland rallied back from a 13-point deficit, the second-largest comeback in an NCAA title game. The Terps had all five starters reach double figures, with Laura Harper, Kristi Toliver and Shay Doron each leading the way with 16 points apiece. Maryland also limited the nation's leading scoring team to 11 points below their average and just 38.5 percent shooting, The Blue Devils led the nation with a 49.8 field goal percentage this season.
In her fourth season at the Terrapin helm, head coach Brenda Frese was the fifth-youngest coach in NCAA history to win an NCAA title. Leading Maryland to its first-ever NCAA Tournament final and the program's second national championship game in school history (AIAW appearance in 1978), Frese guided the team to a school record 34 wins, while the Terps broke numerous other school marks including points (3,166), rebounds (1,720) and blocks (195).
Since arriving to College Park, Frese has recruited three-straight top-10 classes, including two-top five classes. Sophomore Crystal Langhorne and freshman Marissa Coleman were each named ACC Rookie of the Year in back-to-back seasons. In four years under Frese, nine Terrapins have been named to the All-ACC squad, including first teamers Langhorne and junior Shay Doron. Six Terp rookies have also garnered conference All-Freshman team nods since her arrival.
For more information and the full top-10 poll, visit www.gballmag.com.
GBall Magazine Final Top 10
1. Maryland (34-4)
2. Duke (31-4)
3. North Carolina (33-2)
4. LSU (31-4)
5. Tennessee (31-5)
6. Connecticut (32-5)
7. Rutgers (27-5)
8. Stanford (26-8)
9. Oklahoma (31-5)
10. Ohio State (29-3)
