It’s a scene that’s becoming rather repetitive following a Maryland women’s basketball game.
Opposing coaches shake their heads as they heap praise upon junior guard Kristi Toliver, who is averaging a team-high 17.5 points and nearly eight assist per game to power the fourth-ranked Terrapins (14-1). The 5-foot-7 point guard’s has surpassed her production during the past two seasons when she averaged 12 points and 4.5 assists per game, making her a major reason why this year’s Maryland squad may be better than the one that won the NCAA title in 2006.
“Kristi Toliver is special,” Loyola coach Joe Logan said. “I was fortunate to be at St. Joe’s [as an assistant] when [NBA guard] Jameer Nelson was there and she is that type of player. She makes everyone around her better, you have to guard her shot, she has a tremendous court sense, and she does a great job running the fast break.”
Toliver credits much of her improvement to her five-day stay this past summer at Point Guard College, a camp held at James Madison University. She said it was important for her to develop her skills during the summer after a disappointing end to last season, which included her being benched before Maryland lost to Mississippi in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Toliver felt so strong about going to the camp that she declined offers to participate on any of the U.S. National teams.
“I took away a ton from that including Xs and Os, fundamentals and how to approach all types of games,” Toliver said. “It was a great experience for me. We ended [last season] on a bitter note and there were a lot of emotions in the locker room afterward. I feel like we let our seniors now. We’ve put that in the back of our minds, but are playing with a chip on our shoulders and prove ourselves again.”
Maryland coach Brenda Frese said Toliver has matured considerably in the past year and expects her to be even better as the season progresses. Maryland’s next game in Dec. 20 at James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va., which is Toliver’s hometown.
“Kristi continues to show a competitive spirit and is never satisfied with how she plays,” Frese said. “She is always determined to play better.”
