NCAA TOURNAMENT 2023 - A look back!
FAN SCOUT - It's a long one! Enjoy the jaunt down memory lane!
Maryland vs South Carolina
If you're a fan of women's basketball, and I think it's safe to say we all are- you already know a lot about South Carolina. They're good... really good. That's been established throughout the season and they've posted a 35-0 record to back up all the talk!
Let's shift away from South Carolina and reminisce about our Terp team a bit. We started the season with cheat sheets that included pictures, names and numbers. Student-athletes we barely knew, challenged themselves from the start and in our first home game of the season, hosted South Carolina. We lost that game, but learned a lot about our squad that played the game without Diamond, due to a lingering injury. Just over a week later, the team travelled to Waco, Texas and beat a tough Baylor team on their home court, then followed that game with a loss in Fort Meyers against DePaul. Growing pains and a few grumblings from fans, but the Terps persisted, they worked, they believed- even when others didn’t.
A quick turnaround after the Thanksgiving Tournament had the Terps in South Bend, Indiana and what do you know- with a little last second drama, the team beat Notre Dame! But then Nebraska. Nebraska! A home loss, the first Rebounder social. Ugh. That one hurt and we questioned what the team could really do this season, once again.
We collectively held our breath at Purdue, but exhaled when again, a last second shot sealed another dramatic win and we all celebrated Brenda's 600th win! Just three days later, we were treated to a win at home over Connecticut. Yes, that team! The Terps reeled off four more wins before hitting a snag in Bloomington, Indiana. Hoosier fans have grown to love their team and they pack the arena to prove it. A big game atmosphere. Lots to take away from this one. Funny how that works with challenges!
The B1G conference provided us with plenty of opportunities to watch great teams compete with our Terps and for the most part, we continued to put up wins until we hit another speed bump, in another full arena, and another really big game atmosphere! We didn’t post a win that night against the Hawkeyes, but we also didn’t let it break us. Instead, we followed with six more wins to close out our regular season, including a thrilling 96-58 victory over Iowa at our house. We had the answers to lots of our early season questions. This team is good- really good. They’re easy to like. They play together, they stay together—win or lose, and so do the fans! The only question left- how far can they go?
Two great teams, two great head coaches, stellar assistants, all on the big stage! Expect a Terp team that is no longer under the radar, but who’s energy comes only from them, their coaches, and their fans. It’s okay to be the underdog when it’s the Elite Eight and your team is still playing. Celebrate and Go Terps!
FAN SCOUT
Maryland vs Notre Dame
Way back on December 1st, the Terps traveled to South Bend to take on Notre Dame in the B1G Ten/ACC Challenge. That night, the Terps were the victors, with a dramatic last second shot, to knock off the 6-0 Irish, who then sported a single digit ranking. Terp fans are aware that our team has evolved a lot from that time, like most good teams do. Notre Dame has evolved as well.
Notre Dame earned the trip to Greenville by posting a first round, 82-56 win over Southern Utah. They were able to fend off a feisty Mississippi State team for a 53-48 victory. Both games were played on their home court and without one of their star players, Olivia Miles. It was announced prior to the opening round game that because of an injury, she would miss the remainder of the season. Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld will be two of the players that Head Coach Niele Ivy will task with filling the MIles void. Earlier in the year, the Irish lost sharpshooting guard Dara Mabrey, also to a season ending injury.
Wake up, settle in (maybe enjoy a coffee or two) then expect two teams who have worked hard for this moment and the opportunity to compete in the Sweet Sixteen. Celebrate this moment for and with our Terp team! Good luck and Go Terps!
FAN SCOUT
Maryland vs Arizona
Arizona advanced to this second round game with a 74-62 defeat of #10 seed West Virginia. Out of the Pac 12, the Wildcats beat five ranked opponents during the year but ended their regular season and conference tournament on a downward slide, with three straight losses. They were more than happy to return to their winning ways with a first round victory. Adia Barnes has been leading the squad since 2016-2017, a tenure that's highlighted with a trip to the national championship game in 2021. They lost the matchup with Stanford, but the team has been able to continue their momentum for the most part, with the exception of dropping their NCAA round of 32 game last year. This season's team features key players Shaina Pellington in the guard spot, with Cate Reese and Esmery Martiznez joining forces on the inside. You may have heard rumblings that as a 7 seed, this team was underseeded- at this point in the season, it's all about matchups. Fun facts- Brenda Frese was a student-athlete and is an alum of Arizona. Former Maryland Assistant Coach Bett Shelby is on the Arizona staff. Expect a great game against two teams that have been tested all season. The opportunity to move on and the "last game on this floor" sentiment for our seniors, provide all the motivation this skilled, hardworking and enjoyable Terp team needs!
Go Terps!
FAN SCOUT
Maryland vs Holy Cross
The Holy Cross Crusaders hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts, earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament by winning the Patriot League Tournament Championship. They upset top seed Boston University on BU's home court, in a closely contested matchup, capturing the schools 12th overall conference title and first since 2007. Head Coach Maureen Magarity is in her third season in the top spot. Magarity has a combined 21 years of playing and coaching experience at the Division I level and a lifetime spent in and around basketball, as the daughter of Dave Magarity, a 47 year college coaching veteran.
Holy Cross and Maryland met in the NCAA tournament in 1991. Despite being the higher seed, the game was played on the Crusaders home court, because Cole Field House was not available. The home team and underdog prevailed that day, recording the only Patriot League victory in NCAA history.
The team that Holy Cross brings into College Park on Friday, features a well balanced offense and tenacious defense that has held their opponents to a 36% shooting percentage. They will be led on this St. Patrick's day matchup by Bronaugh Power-Cassidy, a junior guard from Dublin, Ireland. Power-Cassidy was named to the Patriot League 2nd Team and leads the team in scoring, assists, blocks and steals. Senior guard Addisyn Cross was named to the Patriot League All Defensive Team and Frishman guard Kaitlyn Flanagan was named to the conference All-Rookie Team.
Expect an upset minded, fundamentally sound Crusader squad competing against a Terps team that has challenged themselves against top-tier programs all season. Fans opened the season by learning the names of these special athletes, stitched together out of necessity by a coaching staff who worked all season to develop this group of players into a formidable team. The team responded and Terp fans have enjoyed, and hope to continue the enjoyment! The Greenville 1 regional placement has the Terps flying under the radar somewhat and that's an ok place to be right now! Go Terps!
Maryland vs South Carolina
If you're a fan of women's basketball, and I think it's safe to say we all are- you already know a lot about South Carolina. They're good... really good. That's been established throughout the season and they've posted a 35-0 record to back up all the talk!
Let's shift away from South Carolina and reminisce about our Terp team a bit. We started the season with cheat sheets that included pictures, names and numbers. Student-athletes we barely knew, challenged themselves from the start and in our first home game of the season, hosted South Carolina. We lost that game, but learned a lot about our squad that played the game without Diamond, due to a lingering injury. Just over a week later, the team travelled to Waco, Texas and beat a tough Baylor team on their home court, then followed that game with a loss in Fort Meyers against DePaul. Growing pains and a few grumblings from fans, but the Terps persisted, they worked, they believed- even when others didn’t.
A quick turnaround after the Thanksgiving Tournament had the Terps in South Bend, Indiana and what do you know- with a little last second drama, the team beat Notre Dame! But then Nebraska. Nebraska! A home loss, the first Rebounder social. Ugh. That one hurt and we questioned what the team could really do this season, once again.
We collectively held our breath at Purdue, but exhaled when again, a last second shot sealed another dramatic win and we all celebrated Brenda's 600th win! Just three days later, we were treated to a win at home over Connecticut. Yes, that team! The Terps reeled off four more wins before hitting a snag in Bloomington, Indiana. Hoosier fans have grown to love their team and they pack the arena to prove it. A big game atmosphere. Lots to take away from this one. Funny how that works with challenges!
The B1G conference provided us with plenty of opportunities to watch great teams compete with our Terps and for the most part, we continued to put up wins until we hit another speed bump, in another full arena, and another really big game atmosphere! We didn’t post a win that night against the Hawkeyes, but we also didn’t let it break us. Instead, we followed with six more wins to close out our regular season, including a thrilling 96-58 victory over Iowa at our house. We had the answers to lots of our early season questions. This team is good- really good. They’re easy to like. They play together, they stay together—win or lose, and so do the fans! The only question left- how far can they go?
Two great teams, two great head coaches, stellar assistants, all on the big stage! Expect a Terp team that is no longer under the radar, but who’s energy comes only from them, their coaches, and their fans. It’s okay to be the underdog when it’s the Elite Eight and your team is still playing. Celebrate and Go Terps!
FAN SCOUT
Maryland vs Notre Dame
Way back on December 1st, the Terps traveled to South Bend to take on Notre Dame in the B1G Ten/ACC Challenge. That night, the Terps were the victors, with a dramatic last second shot, to knock off the 6-0 Irish, who then sported a single digit ranking. Terp fans are aware that our team has evolved a lot from that time, like most good teams do. Notre Dame has evolved as well.
Notre Dame earned the trip to Greenville by posting a first round, 82-56 win over Southern Utah. They were able to fend off a feisty Mississippi State team for a 53-48 victory. Both games were played on their home court and without one of their star players, Olivia Miles. It was announced prior to the opening round game that because of an injury, she would miss the remainder of the season. Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld will be two of the players that Head Coach Niele Ivy will task with filling the MIles void. Earlier in the year, the Irish lost sharpshooting guard Dara Mabrey, also to a season ending injury.
Wake up, settle in (maybe enjoy a coffee or two) then expect two teams who have worked hard for this moment and the opportunity to compete in the Sweet Sixteen. Celebrate this moment for and with our Terp team! Good luck and Go Terps!
FAN SCOUT
Maryland vs Arizona
Arizona advanced to this second round game with a 74-62 defeat of #10 seed West Virginia. Out of the Pac 12, the Wildcats beat five ranked opponents during the year but ended their regular season and conference tournament on a downward slide, with three straight losses. They were more than happy to return to their winning ways with a first round victory. Adia Barnes has been leading the squad since 2016-2017, a tenure that's highlighted with a trip to the national championship game in 2021. They lost the matchup with Stanford, but the team has been able to continue their momentum for the most part, with the exception of dropping their NCAA round of 32 game last year. This season's team features key players Shaina Pellington in the guard spot, with Cate Reese and Esmery Martiznez joining forces on the inside. You may have heard rumblings that as a 7 seed, this team was underseeded- at this point in the season, it's all about matchups. Fun facts- Brenda Frese was a student-athlete and is an alum of Arizona. Former Maryland Assistant Coach Bett Shelby is on the Arizona staff. Expect a great game against two teams that have been tested all season. The opportunity to move on and the "last game on this floor" sentiment for our seniors, provide all the motivation this skilled, hardworking and enjoyable Terp team needs!
Go Terps!
FAN SCOUT
Maryland vs Holy Cross
The Holy Cross Crusaders hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts, earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament by winning the Patriot League Tournament Championship. They upset top seed Boston University on BU's home court, in a closely contested matchup, capturing the schools 12th overall conference title and first since 2007. Head Coach Maureen Magarity is in her third season in the top spot. Magarity has a combined 21 years of playing and coaching experience at the Division I level and a lifetime spent in and around basketball, as the daughter of Dave Magarity, a 47 year college coaching veteran.
Holy Cross and Maryland met in the NCAA tournament in 1991. Despite being the higher seed, the game was played on the Crusaders home court, because Cole Field House was not available. The home team and underdog prevailed that day, recording the only Patriot League victory in NCAA history.
The team that Holy Cross brings into College Park on Friday, features a well balanced offense and tenacious defense that has held their opponents to a 36% shooting percentage. They will be led on this St. Patrick's day matchup by Bronaugh Power-Cassidy, a junior guard from Dublin, Ireland. Power-Cassidy was named to the Patriot League 2nd Team and leads the team in scoring, assists, blocks and steals. Senior guard Addisyn Cross was named to the Patriot League All Defensive Team and Frishman guard Kaitlyn Flanagan was named to the conference All-Rookie Team.
Expect an upset minded, fundamentally sound Crusader squad competing against a Terps team that has challenged themselves against top-tier programs all season. Fans opened the season by learning the names of these special athletes, stitched together out of necessity by a coaching staff who worked all season to develop this group of players into a formidable team. The team responded and Terp fans have enjoyed, and hope to continue the enjoyment! The Greenville 1 regional placement has the Terps flying under the radar somewhat and that's an ok place to be right now! Go Terps!