Maryland, N.C. State renew old rivalry (Mar 17, 2018)
This certainly seems familiar with long-time rivals Maryland and North Carolina State hooking up in a high stakes basketball game.
And here are the fifth-seeded Terrapins and No. 4 seed and host Wolfpack meeting in historic Reynolds Coliseum on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Women's Tournament.
It's a rivalry dating back to 1976, the early years of women's college basketball, and during Maryland's 61-year membership in the ACC, where N.C. State and so many Maryland memories still reside.
"I've got a lot of respect for Maryland," said N.C. State coach Wes Miller, who wasn't around for the hey-day of the rivalry, which will see its 78th renewal. "(Terps coach) Brenda Frese does an amazing job. They've won a national championship, so we'll have a big challenge before us, but it's great to have that opportunity."
The Wolfpack (25-8) rolled into the second round with a commanding 62-35 win over nearby rival and 13th-seed Elon on Friday. N.C. State led for over 37 minutes of the contest, led by Kiara Leslie's 13 points.
For added drama, two years ago Leslie was wrapping up her second year at Maryland, averaging 4.4 points. This season, she was a key supplement to All-ACC Chelsea Nelson and All-ACC Defensive Team stalwart Akela Maize. Leslie, the Holly Spring, N.C., native is second on the team with 12 points per game.
"I think Kiara summed it up perfectly," Moore said. "(Maryland) has got to be just another game. I know that's boring and all, but we've just got to go play basketball."
Perennial powerhouse Maryland (26-7) has not been boring this year, the Terrapins' fourth season in the Big Ten Conference. For the first time, Maryland didn't win that league's crown, and for the first time in their last 10 NCAA appearances, the Terrapins didn't open play at home in College Park. The Terrapins dropped three of their last four regular-season games and lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten Conference title game.
But do-it-all forward Kaila Charles had 20 points to lead Maryland to an impressive 77-57 victory over No. 12 seed Princeton on Friday at Raleigh to open NCAA play. Florida transfer Eleanna Christianki exploded for 16 points and the Terrapins used a 22-10 third quarter run to advance to the Round of 32 for the seventh straight year.
"The story of our team all season long has been that it's just not one person, but everybody sharing the load," Frese said Friday. "You saw, collectively, the strength of our team today."
They know Maryland's strengths well at N.C. State. Besides Leslie, Wolfpack athletic director, Dr. Deborah Yow, sister of legendary N.C. State coach Kay Yow, was the athletic director at Maryland previously, and hired Frese in 2002.
The Wolfpack have a 42-36 all-time edge in the series with the Terrapins, but had lost seven of the previous eight meetings before winning the last meeting in 2014, when the schools were in the same conference.
Sunday's winner will advance to Kansas City for the Sweet 16 on Friday. Meanwhile, N.C. State is 14-2 all-time in NCAA Tournament games in Raleigh and has not lost an NCAA contest there since 1983. Maryland has won only 10 times in 33 games against N.C. State in Raleigh.
