2008 Woodie Awards
TERPS TESTED, BUT WIN
Greg Schimmel
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
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But after the top-seeded Terps beat No. 8 seed Nebraska 76-64 in the second round of the NCAA tournament last night, finishing the season 21-0 at Comcast Center, the Terps kept saying how thrilled they are to blow town and make the trip to Spokane, Wash., this weekend for the regional semifinals.
The win is especially gratifying after the Terps were upset in the second round last year by Ole Miss.
"I don't think you're going to find a happier team than us to be in the Sweet 16 right now," junior forward Marissa Coleman said. "Our goal was to get out of College Park and take it step by step."
The Terps went through some inconsistent stretches last night, but were able to put together enough of a complete effort to get the win.
Cold shooting and some mental lapses plagued the Terps at times, but they were able to pull it together when they needed to against a solid Cornhusker team.
"It was a battle from both ends," coach Brenda Frese said. "I'm just very proud of how we were able to keep our poise and composure."
The Terps wanted to run early on, and built a quick lead scoring points off the fast break and in short half-court possessions.
The Cornhuskers didn't waste any time on their end either, and the up-and-down style of play early on seemed to favor a Terps team that was athletically superior.
"They couldn't hang with us going up and down," junior guard Kristi Toliver said.
The opening breakneck phase gave way to the first frustrating wave of cold shooting, when the Terps went 7:06 without a field goal, and Frese was given a technical for arguing a Cornhuskers basket that she thought went off after the shot clock had expired, though Frese said it was one of her assistants who drew the ire of the officials.
The Terps initially got through the cold shooting by getting to the free-throw line in the tightly called game, and when senior forward Jade Perry broke the drought with a short jumper with 6:54 remaining in the first half, the Terps still led 25-17.
Perry and senior guard Ashleigh Newman both gave the Terps a boost off the bench last night, a luxury the Terps haven't always had this season.
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EmeryR
Emery Rudolph
posted 3/26/08 @ 6:01 PM EST
Let me be the first to say how absolutely proud I am of the Lady Terps! I was at the game last evening and you fought through the many tough challenges of the Huskers and kept your poise. (Continued…)
Julia
posted 3/26/08 @ 8:31 PM EST
Way to go Terps! Congratulations!! So excited that you're in the Sweet 16 - bury Vandy with a full 40 minute effort!
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