March 27, 2013
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Head coach Brenda Frese was named WBCA Regional Coach of the Year and junior Alyssa Thomas was named a finalist for the prestigious State Farm Wade Trophy.
Frese is one of eight Regional Coaches of the Year and is a finalist for WBCA National Coach of the Year. Now in her 11th season at Maryland, she was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year in 2002 and ACC Coach of the Year by her peers this season. Despite numerous season-ending injuries to the Terrapin squad, she's led the Terps to their 10th Sweet Sixteen, a 26-7 overall record and a top 10 ranking.
Thomas, who was named ACC Player of the Year earlier this month, is averaging 19.0 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists. She is the only player in the country to rank in the top 50 of all three stats. She led the ACC in all three and recorded two triple-doubles this year. She is the only player from the ACC to be named a Wade finalist.
The Terps advanced to their fifth Sweet Sixteen under Frese Monday with a 74-49 win over fifth-seeded Michigan State. Thomas scored 28 points, Katie Rutan had 18 and Tianna Hawkins had 12 points and 11 boards for her 17th double-double this year. Alicia DeVaughn added 10 rebounds.
The fourth-seeded Terrapins (26-7) will face top-seeded Connecticut (31-4) in the Bridgeport Regional semifinals Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Webster Bank Arena. Watch live on ESPN and ESPN3.
In last year's NCAA Tournament run, the second-seeded Terps advanced all the way to the Elite Eight. They beat Navy and Louisville in College Park, then came back from an 18-point deficit to knock off defending national champion Texas A&M, 81-74, in the Sweet Sixteen.
This marks Maryland's 21st NCAA Tournament appearance and ninth in Frese's 11 years. She's led Maryland to four Elite Eights, five Sweet Sixteens, a Final Four and the 2006 NCAA Championship. Her all-time record with Maryland in the Tournament is 21-7 (.750).
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