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Maryland’s Kristi Toliver was benched in favor of Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood, above, for the Terps’ game against Harvard Sunday.
HARTFORD, Conn. (Map, News) - Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese knows she has to remain aggressive if she wants to guide her team back to the Final Four. Sometimes, that means taking some chances. Arguably none was bigger than the one she took Sunday in the Terps’ NCAA first-round win against Harvard when Frese replaced sophomore point guard Kristi Toliver with junior Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood in the starting lineup.
Frese said she would likely use the same lineup today when Maryland faces Mississippi at 7 p.m. in the second round at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn.
“If you look at our play [Sunday], I thought Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood brought great tempo and energy to our transition game, which was followed up by Kristi in terms of what we wanted to get done,” Frese said during Sunday’s post-game press conference. “In my mind, I’ve always felt like we’ve had more than five starters anyway with the talent that we have. The move felt great to us in terms of the momentum of our team and where we are going.”
Toliver — who gained national acclaim last season by hitting a three-pointer to send the national title game against Duke into overtime, where Maryland eventually won it — took the benching in stride. Against Harvard, she scored 13 points and added nine assists.
She hopes to do more of the same as Maryland (28-5) looks to beat Mississippi (22-10) for the second time this season. The Rebels, who lost to the Terps, 110-79, on Nov. 25, advanced to the second round with an 88-74 win over Texas Christian.
“It was different,” Toliver said after Sunday’s game of her new reserve role. “Obviously, I haven’t done it since I’ve been here, but I am willing to accept any role that I am given. For me, I am just trying to play for my teammates, get wins and do whatever I have to do. I am the same person. I am the same player as before, but I am just coming [into the game] four minutes later.”
Despite the easy win against Ole Miss in November, the Terps are expecting a much tighter game.
“I think that it gives us some confidence, but we know that we played them a long time ago,” junior forward Crystal Langhorne said. “Ole Miss is a very different team. They are a lot better and we just need to be prepared.”
MARYLAND-MISSISSIPPI NOTES
» Tonight’s game tips off at 7 and will be televised on ESPN2.
» Armintie Price leads Mississippi in scoring at 18.2 points a game. She also averages nine rebounds and shoots 58 percent from the field for the Rebels.
» Ashley Awkward is the Rebels’ second-leading scorer (12.2 ppg), while Alliesha Easley is third (11.1).
» Kristi Toliver started 49 straight games for Maryland before coming off the bench Sunday. She is averaging 11.9 points and 4.8 assists through 33 games played. Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood is averaging 6.6 points and 2.5 assists through 21 games.
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
7 agree | 9 disagree
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
77 agree | 73 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
511 agree | 246 disagree
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
606 agree | 364 disagree
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