Maryland forward Crystal Langhorne knows she has the ability to score 20 or more points almost whenever she wants.
But with a roster as deep and talented as the Terps have, Langhorne said scoring that many points a game is not always necessary. Still, the 6-foot-2 junior from Willingsboro, N.J., leads Maryland (12-0) in scoring (14.9) and rebounding (8.2) averages.
The key to Langhorne?s success comes not from how often she scores, but when she scores, she said. A prime example of this came Sunday at Temple, where she scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half as Maryland rallied from a four-point deficit with 5:38 left to defeat the Owls, 77-66.
“I just try to play within the flow of the game,” said Langhorne, who is shooting 73.3 percent from the field. “I don?t try to force anything. Unlike my freshman year when we didn?t have as much talent here, there are so many players capable of scoring that it?s not going to be up to me every night to score for us to win.”
Part of what makes the 2005-06 second-team All-American selection great is her ability not only to score, but also rebound at a high level on a daily basis. Langhorne, who is also a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, is the ACC?s active career leader in double-doubles at 38, including five this season.
Maryland coach Brenda Frese said Langhorne?s play is not as flashy as some of her teammates. But she knows that whatever Maryland needs in a given situation Langhorne will find a way to make it happen.
“Crystal is our quiet hero,” Frese said. “She is just a workhorse that just goes about her business, and as a coach, it?s great to know that you have someone like that on your team that you can depend on, game in and game out. With most other programs, Crystal would be asked to score a lot more than she does here. With the number of quality players we have here, though, Crystal understands it?s just as important to share the ball and get it into the hands of your other teammates.”
THE LANGHORNE FILE
» Age: 20
» Height: 6-foot-2
» Position: Forward/center
» Did you know? Langhorne, along with fellow Maryland starters Shay Doron, Kristi Toliver, Laura Harper and Marissa Coleman were named preseason candidates for the Naismith Award, presented to the national player of the year. It?s the first time in the history of the award that five players from the same team were among the 50 candidates ? Langhorne?s 1,381 career points put her in 12th all-time at Maryland. Her 763 career rebounds is good for fourth all-time.
