Women's basketball set to make season's first road trip

There are teams and coaches that dread life on the road and the distractions that may follow.

Coach Brenda Frese and the Terrapin women's basketball team, however, are welcoming this weekend's trip to the East Carolina Thanksgiving Tournament, in which the No. 21 Terps will face off against the hosts Friday and Massachusetts on Saturday.

"We're just really looking forward to the bonding time," Frese said. "We're going to be able to spend Thanksgiving together, and it's time that we feel like we really need to continue building this team."

As the Terps' first true road test of the year — the team lost at No. 13 Georgetown, just a quick bus ride away, Nov. 16 — the tournament may present a particular challenge for Frese's lauded freshman class.

The team's veterans are accustomed to being away from home for the holidays. For the young Terps, though, the distraction of the holiday weekend could be an unusual novelty.

"I'm used to [being away from home] by now," guard Anjale Barrett said. "It's my fourth year here. I don't know how the freshmen are going to react, but they'll be all right."

Once the Terps (3-1) get on the court, things should become simpler. Frese said the Pirates (2-2) won't allow the Terps to get comfortable — "ECU's pressing 40 minutes, in your face," she explained — but their competition to this point hasn't been formidable. East Carolina lost its season opener to American, a team the Terps pounded Sunday.

The Minutewomen (0-4), meanwhile, have had little success against a tough nonconference slate that included road games at Providence, LSU and Seton Hall.

"We're going to go down there and play two good teams," Barrett said. "We've just got to be mentally tough and battle."

The tournament will mark the Terps' first tournament away from College Park since they won the Caribbean Challenge in 2008. Their back-to-back games will be the first true test of what appears to be outstanding depth for the Terps, who have used a 10-player rotation so far this season.

"We're looking forward to being able to see us in different situations," Frese said.

While it may be a disappointment for the Terps if they don't return to the campus with two victories, this weekend's tournament presents a valuable learning experience, particularly for the team's youngsters.

"I welcome [being on the road]," Frese said. "You've got to go on the road in ACC play, and the more comfortable you can get with being on the road is critical to your success."

cwalsh@umdbk.com