For the past year, ever since Maryland won its first women's basketball national championship in Boston, a clip of either Kristi Toliver or Marissa Coleman has appeared during the introduction to ESPN's SportsCenter.
If Toliver, Coleman or someone else from the Terps gets her SportsCenter moment for the coming year, she'll certainly earn it, as the Terps were given a virtual minefield to navigate when the NCAA tournament field was released last night.
MARYLAND VS. HARVARD Dayton Regional first round, Hartford (Conn.) Civic Center, Sunday, approximately 2:30 p.m., TV TBA
TERPS' FIRST ROUND
Matchup -- No. 2 seed Maryland (27-5) vs. No. 15 seed Harvard (15-12) in Dayton Regional
When -- Sunday, approximately 2:30 p.m.
Site -- Hartford (Conn.) Civic Center
Coaches -- Maryland's Brenda Frese (168-80 in eight years; 111-50 in five years at Maryland); Harvard's Kathy Delaney-Smith (382-275 in 25 years, all at Harvard)
Series record -- Maryland leads 1-0 (81-61 on Nov. 29, 1997)
Outlook -- The Terps begin defense of their national championship against the Crimson, which has won 12 straight after losing 12 of its first 15 games. Harvard is making its sixth NCAA tournament appearance and first since 2003. Sophomore guard Emily Tay (12.8 points per game) leads Harvard in scoring and was named to the Ivy League first team. Senior forward Christiana Lackner leads Harvard in rebounding (7.0 per game). Five Maryland players average in double figures, led by junior Crystal Langhorne (15.1 points per game). Senior Shay Doron needs 80 points to surpass Vicky Bullett as Maryland's all-time leading scorer.
Milton Kent