Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Maryland: NCAA Women's Basketball National Champions

Maryland Rallies Past Duke In OT, 78-75

Maryland won the NCAA Women's Basketball championship last night. Kristi Toliver hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to cap a 13-point comeback, then she made two free throws with 35 seconds left in overtime to give the Terrapins a 78-75 victory over Duke and their first NCAA Women's Basketball title.

I'm a casual follower of Women's Basketball. This Final Four interested me because three ACC schools were there. Maryland beat North Carolina to get to the final game. Maryland has had some success in this tournament, but it was a long, long time ago. They played in the Women's Final Four in 1982 and 1989 but never reached the title game. So props to the Maryland players and Coach Brenda Frese. It's always cool seeing the words Maryland and NCAA National Champions together.

A few things that I love about this victory:

1. No matter what sport it is, it is always great seeing Duke lose.

2. Maryland finished the season 34-4. They were 6-0 in overtime games this season. All of these wins were away from Comcast Center.

3. The Terps were down 13 last night and with the win, completed the second largest comeback in a women's title game.

4. Maryland joins Stanford, Connecticut and North Carolina as schools that have won both Men's and Women's NCAA basketball titles.

This team has no seniors. There are six freshman and sophomores among their top seven scorers.

Last night's game tying shot by freshman Kristi Toliver reminded me of another clutch freshman coming up big in an NCAA Championship game. Michael Jordan's shot beat Georgetown in the 1982 Championship game.


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