WASHINGTON — The Maryland women’s basketball team has won consecutive Big Ten tournaments, but can they reach a third straight Final Four?
Can you be 30-3 and overlooked? Despite returning most of the nucleus from a team that advanced to consecutive Final Fours and winning its second straight Big Ten tournament, Maryland enters the NCAA tournament as a semi-afterthought. Even though they led the nation in rebounding margin while ranking second in shooting percentage, and fourth from three-point range, the Terrapins are a member of the women’s’ game’s supporting cast.
This March, it’s all about the University of Connecticut chasing a fourth straight national title, with Notre Dame viewed by many as the only team that can stop them. By the way, the Fighting Irish just happen to be the top seed in the Terrapins’ region. But if you ask coach Brenda Frese, it’s all about Iona — even if the Gaels are making their first-ever appearance in the Big Dance. Iona, Washington and Penn come to College Park for the first weekend of the tournament, and it only seems as though Maryland is unstoppable at Xfinity Center. They did lose to Ohio State at home in January, and one of the tougher tournament losses in recent vintage was a second round stumble to Georgetown in 2011.
The Team:
Maryland (30-3, 16-2) won the Big Ten regular season title when Ohio State (a team that had swept the Terps) lost its last two games (one in overtime, the other in double-OT). They left no doubt in the Big Ten Tournament, disposing of Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan State by 20, 21 and 16 points. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough took Most Outstanding Player honors after averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds over the weekend, while Brionna Jones remains unstoppable in the post (17 points per game on 61 percent shooting, plus six steals in the title game). In addition, the point guard duet of seniors Chloe Pavlech and Brene Moseley keeps opponents on their heels with the Terps’s quick transition. Moseley is just one of many weapons coming off the bench: senior Tierney Pfirman scored 17 points against Northwestern in the Big Ten semifinals. The team’s Achilles heel during the season was Ohio State, taking advantage of them in both of their games. Opponents would be wise to view those game tapes.
The rest of the Quartet:
15th seed Iona (23-11, 16-4) is fresh off its first-ever MAAC tournament title. The 1-2 punch of Joy Adams and Mirina Lizarazu may pose problems, but for the most part this Gaels team is undersized and the Terrapins should be able to advance by playing their game.
7th seed Washington (22-10, 11-7 Pac 12) finished fifth in the conference but enters the NCAA’s fresh off knowing they can beat a ranked team after topping No. 11 Stanford in their conference tournament. Guard Kelsey Plum led their league in scoring with 26 points per game while forward Chantel Osahor tallies more than 10 rebounds per contest.
10th seed Penn (24-4, 13-1) is the second Ivy League team to come to College Park in two years, as unbeaten Princeton received an unfortunate No. 8 seed and an eventual second-round showdown with the Terps. The Quakers can defend, as they led their conference in defending the 3-pointer and were second in rebounding and turnover margin.
Game times:
1:30 p.m. Maryland-Iona
4 p.m. Washington-Penn
Second Round is Monday evening at Xfinity Center.
