#17/#16 MARYLAND TERRAPINS 24-8 (11-7 B1G, 6th)
Massey 16 (UNC 15); RPI 30 (NOLAN) (UNC 17); Torvik 13 (UNC 18)
NCAA NET 14 (UNC 19); NCAA WAB 17 (UNC 15); Top 16 #13 (UNC N/R)
LAST YEAR: 25-8, 13-5 B1G, NCAAT 2-1 (lost to s. Carolina 67-71)
Sunday’s NCAA Round 2 matchup will be against the Maryland Terrapins at Carmichael. It is the first meeting in a dozen years. Maryland was of course an original ACC member but left the conference in 2014. The last game was in the 2014 ACCT, a second round game won by UNC 73-70. Diamond DeShields (22) and Allisha Gray (17/10) led the Heels. Overall Carolina leads the series 39-37.
The series has had its ups and downs. In the early years the Terps dominated 21-10. Then Carolina took over 20-6. Finally, in the decade before UM left the ACC it was Maryland 8, UNC 7.
However, Coach Banghart mentioned in the post-game presser after the WIU win that her 2015 Princeton team had played Maryland in round 2 of the NCAAT, the only loss for that 31-1 team. That season earned her COY honors from the USBWA. Here’s a chance for a little payback for the loss.
The Terps started out 14-0 (2-0), but found B1G play a bit more challenging with a 9-7 record and a 6th place finish. Maryland played a reasonably difficult schedule (44 according to Nolan and 59 according to the NCAA), and were ranked as high as #7 AP. The Terps did have some problems with the interlopers from PAC-12, losing to UCLA, Washington, and twice to Oregon. They did, however, beat USC.
Three players have started every game. One is Oluchi Okananwa, a 5-10 junior G formerly playing for the dookies. The change in home bases has been good for her as she leads Maryland in scoring (18 ppg) and in steals. She is first team All-B1G. A second starter is Israel’s Yarden Garzon, a 6-3 senior G (12.7/4.0). Formerly a Hoosier, Garzon is a 38% 3-point shooter and has no reservation about putting the long ball up: 87 of 229. Her size makes her a tough matchup. For good measure she also leads in assists. A third regular is Saylor Poffenbarger, a 6-2 redshirt senior G (9.8/7.0). She is the leading rebounder.
Other regulars are Freshman Addi Mack, a 5-9 G (10.7/3.0); Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, a 6-2 redshirt junior F (8.3/6.6); Freshman Rainey Welson, a 5-10 G (3.8), Kyndal Walker, a redshirt freshman G (6.3), and the well-traveled Mir McLean, a 5-11 GS G. Her career has taken her from UConn to Virginia and now to Maryland.
In Maryland’s 32-point win over Murray State the starters were Mack (18 ppg), Garzon (12), Poffenbarger (10/11), Okananwa (7), and McLean (19). Helping off the bench was Walker (20).
Overall Maryland averages 82.3 points per game, #12 NCAA, and hold opponents to 63.3 ppg. Maryland has always been an outstanding rebounding team, and this one is no exception: a rebound margin of +10 (9th NCAA) and offensive rebounds at 15.7 per game, #12 NCAA.
Brenda Frese is in her 24th season with a record of 631-177 (78.1%). Her conference record at Maryland including both ACC and B1G games is 288-104. She is a two-time national COY. That 78.1% winning percentage is the best among all current and former D-1 basketball coaches, men or women - or so say the Terps.
Maryland is a formidable opponent no matter where you play them, and have given the Heels some terrific battles over the years. Last year, Maryland was the only 4-seed to advance to the Sweet 16, where they gave a good effort against #1-seed S. Carolina before losing 67-71. The prize for winning Sunday is a game with #1 overall seed UConn, currently undefeated at 34-0. This assumes there is no monumental upset in the Huskies’ first two rounds.
Making the Sweet 16 is no small achievement. A team that does so is among the top 4% of all D-1 women’s programs. Carolina will have to earn it. Go Heels!
The game is Noon EST. It will be carried on ESPN.
Massey 16 (UNC 15); RPI 30 (NOLAN) (UNC 17); Torvik 13 (UNC 18)
NCAA NET 14 (UNC 19); NCAA WAB 17 (UNC 15); Top 16 #13 (UNC N/R)
LAST YEAR: 25-8, 13-5 B1G, NCAAT 2-1 (lost to s. Carolina 67-71)
Sunday’s NCAA Round 2 matchup will be against the Maryland Terrapins at Carmichael. It is the first meeting in a dozen years. Maryland was of course an original ACC member but left the conference in 2014. The last game was in the 2014 ACCT, a second round game won by UNC 73-70. Diamond DeShields (22) and Allisha Gray (17/10) led the Heels. Overall Carolina leads the series 39-37.
The series has had its ups and downs. In the early years the Terps dominated 21-10. Then Carolina took over 20-6. Finally, in the decade before UM left the ACC it was Maryland 8, UNC 7.
However, Coach Banghart mentioned in the post-game presser after the WIU win that her 2015 Princeton team had played Maryland in round 2 of the NCAAT, the only loss for that 31-1 team. That season earned her COY honors from the USBWA. Here’s a chance for a little payback for the loss.
The Terps started out 14-0 (2-0), but found B1G play a bit more challenging with a 9-7 record and a 6th place finish. Maryland played a reasonably difficult schedule (44 according to Nolan and 59 according to the NCAA), and were ranked as high as #7 AP. The Terps did have some problems with the interlopers from PAC-12, losing to UCLA, Washington, and twice to Oregon. They did, however, beat USC.
Three players have started every game. One is Oluchi Okananwa, a 5-10 junior G formerly playing for the dookies. The change in home bases has been good for her as she leads Maryland in scoring (18 ppg) and in steals. She is first team All-B1G. A second starter is Israel’s Yarden Garzon, a 6-3 senior G (12.7/4.0). Formerly a Hoosier, Garzon is a 38% 3-point shooter and has no reservation about putting the long ball up: 87 of 229. Her size makes her a tough matchup. For good measure she also leads in assists. A third regular is Saylor Poffenbarger, a 6-2 redshirt senior G (9.8/7.0). She is the leading rebounder.
Other regulars are Freshman Addi Mack, a 5-9 G (10.7/3.0); Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, a 6-2 redshirt junior F (8.3/6.6); Freshman Rainey Welson, a 5-10 G (3.8), Kyndal Walker, a redshirt freshman G (6.3), and the well-traveled Mir McLean, a 5-11 GS G. Her career has taken her from UConn to Virginia and now to Maryland.
In Maryland’s 32-point win over Murray State the starters were Mack (18 ppg), Garzon (12), Poffenbarger (10/11), Okananwa (7), and McLean (19). Helping off the bench was Walker (20).
Overall Maryland averages 82.3 points per game, #12 NCAA, and hold opponents to 63.3 ppg. Maryland has always been an outstanding rebounding team, and this one is no exception: a rebound margin of +10 (9th NCAA) and offensive rebounds at 15.7 per game, #12 NCAA.
Brenda Frese is in her 24th season with a record of 631-177 (78.1%). Her conference record at Maryland including both ACC and B1G games is 288-104. She is a two-time national COY. That 78.1% winning percentage is the best among all current and former D-1 basketball coaches, men or women - or so say the Terps.
Maryland is a formidable opponent no matter where you play them, and have given the Heels some terrific battles over the years. Last year, Maryland was the only 4-seed to advance to the Sweet 16, where they gave a good effort against #1-seed S. Carolina before losing 67-71. The prize for winning Sunday is a game with #1 overall seed UConn, currently undefeated at 34-0. This assumes there is no monumental upset in the Huskies’ first two rounds.
Making the Sweet 16 is no small achievement. A team that does so is among the top 4% of all D-1 women’s programs. Carolina will have to earn it. Go Heels!
The game is Noon EST. It will be carried on ESPN.
