A Final Four-like atmosphere is expected Sunday night at Comcast Center when No. 3 Maryland takes on No. 2 North Carolina in a major women’s basketball showdown.
With a rematch of last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference final and the NCAA semifinals, College Park is expecting to be rocking with more than 17,000 fans cramming into the first sold-out women’s game to be played at the arena.
The game should be a high-scoring affair, considering North Carolina and Maryland field the two most potent offenses in the ACC. The visiting Tar Heels (22-0, 6-0 ACC) and the Terps (21-1, 5-1) average 89.9 and 87.5 points per game, respectively.
Maryland is coming off a 76-62 victory Thursday night at Clemson. North Carolina last played Sunday, defeating N.C. State, 86-65.
Maryland coach Brenda Frese said while the Terps were the only team to beat North Carolina last year, this game is far from a sure win for the defending national champions.
“They’re talented, deep, athletic and present challenges matching up,” Frese said. “There’s a reason why they’re undefeated. It’s hard to find any weaknesses on their team.”
Like Maryland, North Carolina spreads out its scoring, with four scorers averaging at least 10 points a game.
Leading that group is senior guard Ivory Latta, who averages 15.5 points and 4.8 assists and makes nearly 44 percent of her three-point attempts.
Maryland must also keep tabs on senior forward Camille Little, junior forward Erlana Larkins and junior center Latoya Pringle. Little averages 14.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals a game, Larkins contributes 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds, and Pringle adds 10.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots.
Frese said the winner will likely be decided by who gains the rebounding advantage. Maryland and North Carolina lead the conference in that category with 46.3 and 48.5 rebounds per game, respectively.
