Top-Ranked Terps Barely Pull Out Opener
Saturday, November 11, 2006; 12:26 AM
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Brenda Frese sounds grateful enough to send a thank-you note to her friend, Middle Tennessee coach Rick Insell. His Blue Raiders gave her top-ranked Maryland Terrapins a lesson Friday night on what it's like to be the team everyone wants to beat.
Kristi Toliver hit a 3-pointer with 3:11 left to break a tie at 72, and the defending national champions pulled out an 80-76 victory in the opener for both teams.
  Maryland coach Brenda Frese, right, instructs Laura Harper during the first quarter of a basketball game against Middle Tennessee on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey - AP) Marching to Boston Maryland charges back from a 13-point deficit to beat Duke in overtime, 78-75, to claim its first national title. » Box score Maryland provides the idyllic endpoint to a landmark season and the perfect launching point for a potential dynasty. Sally Jenkins: Maryland's title is a testament to the power of blank, optimistic youth and to the shimmering intensity of the Terps' talented freshmen. Notebook: Look for the NCAA to continue announcing the women's tournament bracket on Monday -- at least for a while. Fans set fires, throw bottles and try to tip over a bus after the game, but the rowdiness falls short of previous disorders. After landing squarely on her elbow, Shay Doron returns to help resurrect the Terrapins in the NCAA title game. ON OUR SITE Photos: Maryland wins its first national championship in women's basketball by defeating Duke in overtime in Boston. MULTIMEDIAAudio: Post's Eli Saslow puts championship in perspective. Audio: Terps Coach Brenda Frese credits Duke. Audio: Maryland's Kristi Toliver describes her game-tying three-pointer. CAPSULES |
Not exactly a game to ease into the season.
"They made us better tonight, and that was tremendous," Frese said.
"One of the better college games I've ever been a part of. ... They made us work for everything. It was a tough battle like you saw but a tremendous environment. We loved the fans, the energy. ... It's just going to make us both better."
The victory extended Maryland's winning streak to seven straight, a run that started in the NCAA tournament last spring en route to the school's first national title. Opening on the road, the Terrapins drew 10,010 _ a record crowd that was more than twice the previous best for a Blue Raiders women's game.
"Middle Tennessee has prepared us for what's going to come ahead in every game," said Crystal Langhorne, the Terrapins' preseason All-American. "We know we're going to get everybody's best game."
The teams swapped the lead five times with one tie, all in the second half. Chelsia Lymon scored with 1:59 left to pull Middle Tennessee to 75-74, but the Blue Raiders missed their next three shots.
Laura Harper hit a free throw, and Langhorne put back a miss by Shay Doron with 27 seconds to make it 78-74. Middle Tennessee turned over the ball once again, and Maryland got the victory.
Insell said his Blue Raiders got a little tired and had to come out of the press that had worked so well. Maryland had 23 turnovers the Blue Raiders turned into 30 points.
"But you know, they're the national champions. They've been picked No. 1 already this season by everybody. I'm proud of our young ladies. They made the plays when they had to make plays, and that's what they're supposed to do."
Marissa Coleman had 19 points for Maryland. Langhorne and Doron each finished with 16, while Harper had 11.
