The one time I watch a game

So I finally realize my very real Bucket List dream of watching a women’s basketball game from wire to wire, and this is what I get. The Maryland women’s season comes to a screeching and unceremonious halt against Louisville, 77-60. Toliver and Coleman combined to shoot 11-27, with a lot of the makes coming in garbage time. Whatever spark they had for most of the season just wasn’t there. And they were sloppy — even for women’s ball. And that’s saying something. That’s like saying someone was really drunk — even for the infield at the Preakness.

It was still an incredible run for Toliver, Coleman, and the rest of the team. They made the Elite Eight and finished 31-5. The two senior leaders won a championship their freshman year. And they wanted to bookend with another — or at least a return to the big game. No one would have faulted them if they lost to UConn and that insufferable prick Gino Auriemma. But to not reach the game was probably a bit disappointing, for the players, for Maryland fans, and for all those legions of women’s hoop fans. Maryland-UConn was THE game. And now we won’t get it.

Oh well. With Dee Liles and Lynnetta Kizer underneath (and, for this game, underused), the Lady Terps have a solid foundation to build on. Here’s hoping they come back strong next year. Best of luck to Kristi and the attractive Marissa Coleman, who I would like to meet in person, because she is attractive. Go Terps!

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Lady Terps show the men how you do it

At least one Maryland team is playing well. Yesterday, the no. 12 women’s hoops team upended no. 2 North Carolina, 77-71. Big ups to the lady Terps…after a slightly rocky start, the team finds itself in a pretty good spot…they’re 4-1 in ACC play and could crack the top 10 soon.

The ladies seem to have a lot of pieces that the men very blatantly lack. Strong floor leadership in Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver.  They’re calm in the clutch.  And they get awesome post play from Coleman, Demauria Liles, and Lynetta Kizer, who combined for 44 points and 34 rebounds in this game. How much money would you pay to see the men’s frontcourt put up a line like that?

Pinky and the pinks couldn't get over Lynetta Kizer and co.

Pinky and the pinks couldn't get over Lynetta Kizer and co.

The game also included a tribute to N.C. State women’s coach Kay Yow, sister of Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow. This is the second campus icon that N.C. State has lost to cancer. Here’s hoping Kay Yow’s legacy lives on in as strong and beneficial a way as Jimmy V’s has.

All in all, great day for the ladies. It’s nice to have something positive to root for in College Park right now. One thing I’m most decidedly NOT rooting for is a return of those hideous pink Carolina unis. Hey, Carolina. I know it’s meant to be a tribute, but tributes should never be unsightly. Your unis are so distinctive that their color is actually named for them. And it’s not Carolina Pink. Think, McFly. Think.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Gail Burton

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Coleman passes around the back of a Loyola defender, embarrassing her.

Coleman passes around the back of a Loyola defender, embarrassing her.

The women’s basketball team is off to another good start.  The ladies are currently ranked #15 in the AP poll with an 8-2 record after beating Loyola by 31 points last night.  The team was ranked #8 before losing to #16 Pittsburgh over the weekend.  Both of the Terps losses came to ranked opponents, but the 86-57 loss to Pittsburgh was especially bad. Coach Brenda Frese got on the team after that game, and the Terps used the loss as motivation to deliver a whooping to Loyola.

Maryland has benefited from balanced scoring, with four players averaging in double figures in points thus far.  The team is led by senior point guard Kristi Toliver who has a deadly jumper and is averaging 15.3 pts/gm and 4.7 asst/gm, and senior Marissa Coleman who is averaging 15 pts/gm and 8.4 rb/gm at the three spot.  Both players were on the 2006 National Championship team.

Like the men’s team, these Terps face a tough ACC schedule.  UNC, Duke, and Virginia are all ranked, and all of them appear twice on the regular season schedule.  Maryland seems a bit more vulnerable this year than in years past as shown by the bad loss to Pitt.  They should be able to coast through the rest of their pre-ACC schedule, but I hope it isn’t too easy.  The team will need to pick-up its intensity if they’re going to make a run at the ACC and keep playing deep into March.

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