April 26, 2009
Photo Gallery
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's basketball team held its annual end-of-year awards and honors banquet on Sunday night at the Riggs Alumni Center's Orem Hall, where more than 430 family members, boosters and Terrapin supporters gathered to pay tribute to the 2008-09 team.
Brenda Frese, Maryland's seventh-year head coach, distributed the awards while assistant coach Daron Park served as master of ceremonies. Several items such as autographed jerseys and photos were also auctioned off.
Team Most Valuable Player honors were bestowed upon Maryland's two outstanding seniors in point guard Kristi Toliver and guard/forward Marissa Coleman. The duo collected All-American laurels earlier in the month after leading the Terps to a 31-5 record, an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight. Toliver was named ACC Player of the Year while Coleman was selected as the ACC Tournament MVP, among several other conference and national distinctions.
The second- and third-leading scorers in school history, the pair delivered rousing and emotional speeches in advance of their departure from College Park to begin their WNBA careers. Coleman was the second overall selection in the 2009 WNBA Draft by Washington, while Toliver followed as the No. 3 pick by Chicago.
Coleman and Toliver were also recognized with Career Achievement Awards. The pair ended their remarkable careers as the winningest class in Maryland history with a record of 126-19 (.869).
Freshman center Lynetta Kizer was given the team's Rookie of the Year Award. The Woodbridge, Va., native averaged 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game en route to becoming Maryland's third ACC Rookie of the Year in the last five seasons.
Redshirt freshman Anjale Barrett, a point guard, was the recipient of the Terp Award. Fellow redshirt freshman Kim Rodgers was given the Most Improved Player Award.
Rodgers and Lori Bjork, a transfer who sat out the season due to NCAA regulations, collected the Academic Award. Emery Wallace, a sophomore from Roanoke, Va., was given the Inspirational Award. Wallace provided the team enthusiasm and encouragement on the bench despite being unable to compete due to a knee injury.
Junior Demauria Liles, who played her first season at Maryland after transferring from junior college, took home the team's Utility Award. Liles averaged nearly a double-double per game, coupling a team-high 9.0 rebounds with 10.6 points (4th on team) per contest.
Freshman Yemi Oyefuwa, a London native, claimed the Courage Award. Oyefuwa was a reserve center who appeared in 27 games in her initial season in College Park.
Five senior team managers (Kayla Gross, Brittney Renehan, Drew Ryan, Abby Sondak and Jessica Young) were presented Outstanding Service Awards.
