It?s been the best of times and the worst of times for Maryland guard Kristi Toliver when she plays Duke.
She will always be remembered for hitting “The Shot” ? the game-tying three-pointer against the Blue Devils with six seconds remaining in regulation of the 2006 NCAA championship game, which Maryland went on to win in overtime.
However, the 5-foot-7 sophomore also experienced one of the worst games of her career Jan. 13 at Duke when she went 3 for 11 from the field in a 81-62 loss.
Maryland coach Brenda Frese said she learned a lot about Toliver following that defeat and realized how mature she is after watching her score 20 points and dish out seven assists in Friday?s win against Virginia. She followed that up with 10 points and five assists in Sunday?s win over Wake Forest.
Frese hopes to see more of the same from her budding leader tonight when No. 3 Maryland (20-1 overall, 4-1 ACC) plays at Clemson (9-10, 1-3).
“Kristi Toliver really talked about communicating and being a leader,” Frese said after the Virginia game. “That?s the best game I?ve seen her play in terms of her leadership. Toliver, [Laura] Harper and [Marissa] Coleman had one of their most difficult games against Duke. I think it goes to show when players take it to heart and make it personal. It shows with the statement they made in their play [Friday].”
Toliver said she isn?t dwelling on the Duke loss and that the key to Maryland?s success is how it responds.
“We had a tough one down in Durham, but there was only one thing we could do and that was to recover and regroup,” Toliver said. “I think that by doing that, we showed that we are more mature than in the past because we could have folded again.”
Frese wants to see that maturity from the whole team this week. Maryland has won its last five meetings against Clemson, but it can?t afford to look past the Tigers with a home game against No. 2 North Carolina looming Sunday.
Frese said that it?s crucial for the Terps to remain focused and not go through stretches where they make mental mistakes, especially since no player is on the court more than 25 minutes a game.
“We should be able to bring our effort and concentration with the minutes our players are on the floor,” Frese said.
MARYLAND-CLEMSON NOTES
» Maryland leads the all-time series against Clemson, 33-24.
» Junior forward D?Lesha Lloyd leads Clemson in scoring (15.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.2). Junior guard Tasha Taylor averages 12.5 points a game.
