Defending Champs Feel the Love

Confident Terrapins Open Title Defense As No. 2 Seed in Difficult Dayton Region

After the Maryland Terrapins had just been announced as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA women's tournament, ESPN analyst Stacey Dales spent a few moments talking about the defending national champions. Dales started her remarks with what became the highlight of the team's selection show viewing last night.

"This Maryland team is dangerous," Dales said. "I love you, Kristi Toliver."

And with that, the defending national champions learned they would play No. 15 seed Harvard in Hartford, Conn., on Sunday, and the team shared a fun moment with Toliver, who giggled in embarrassment as her teammates jokingly imitated Dales's salutation.

"I love you, Kristi Toliver," Marissa Coleman said in jest.

It was that kind of night in Heritage Hall, a large room overlooking the court at Comcast Center. Nearly 200 program supporters, the coaches and players sat at tables and watched the selection show, which was beamed onto a large projection screen in the corner of the room.

The smiles kept coming even though the Terrapins (27-5, 10-4 ACC) were handed a spot in the Dayton Region, perhaps the toughest of the four brackets. Maryland's potential opponents sounds like a roll call of the nation's toughest teams: the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers with Candace Parker, No. 3 seed Oklahoma featuring the Paris sisters, No. 4 seed Ohio State and Jessica Davenport.

"When you look at our conference, and you had to play against Duke, Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech, day in and day out," Coleman said. The draw "doesn't scare us because it's what we faced in the ACC."

Even the region's fifth seed, Middle Tennessee State, was strong enough to warrant a live camera crew. The Blue Raiders have won 26 straight games, though the Terrapins won the teams' head-to head matchup in Murfreesboro.

The Terrapins' first opponent, Harvard (15-12, 13-1 Ivy League), holds the distinction of being the only No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 in the NCAA tournament, beating Stanford in 1998.

Maryland's seeding came as no surprise for the Terrapins, who lost both meetings to ACC rivals Duke and North Carolina, both of which joined Tennessee and Connecticut as top seeds.

"I like where we're at," Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. "We're hungry. This season has humbled us more, and defensively we've made tremendous strides."

The Terrapins have some history on their side. A No. 2 seed has won the national championship three straight seasons.

"We're excited about our bracket," Frese said. "We know our conference prepares us for anything we're going to face. We're just excited now to know who we're playing and where we're playing."

Meantime, the Terrapins seem confident entering what they hope is a successful defense of the national championship.

"We know what's expected," Coleman said. "I think we're prepared this year."

The night's biggest suspense came with what would happen with Dales and Toliver.

"We were waiting to see when she'd say something about Kristi," Coleman said. "We were waiting to see where that punch line was going to come."

Toliver and Dales played a game of horse during the Final Four last year. Toliver won, sinking a three pointer from the same spot she made famous against Duke.

"We have five losses," Toliver said, turning her focus to the first round. "But right now, we know it's one [loss] and done. We're ready to go, play confident and win six games in a row."