Maryland?s graduating class wanted to have a memorable game on Senior Day, and it?s not likely to forget any part of a 92-84 overtime victory against Florida State at Comcast Center on Sunday.
The fourth-ranked Terrapins rallied from an eight-point deficit in the second half by tying the game on a layup by junior forward Marissa Coleman with 4.9 seconds remaining before putting the Seminoles away in the extra session.
Senior forward Crystal Langhorne scored 21 points, including 15 after the first half, and grabbed 11 rebounds for Maryland (28-2, 12-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), which honored her with a post-game ceremony by raising her retired, No. 1 jersey to the rafters.
“The emotions of this game speaks wonder because this class is so big and has done so many things here,” senior forward Laura Harper said. “When Marissa hit that shot it was like ?thank the Lord.? Once she hit that bucket we knew we were going to be fine because we needed that one to give us confidence to go on a crazy run.”
The run happened in front of Terrapins coach Brenda Frese, who returned to the sideline by sitting in an oversized chair at the end of the team?s bench in the second half. Last week, the 37-year-old gave birth to twin boys.
Coleman finished with 13 points and nine rebounds and guard Kristi Toliver had a game-high 24 points, as the Terrapins went undefeated at home (19-0) for the fifth time in school history.
Still, Florida State appeared poised for the upset, as it led 71-63 following a jumper by junior guard Tanae Davis-Cain with 4:08 remaining in regulation. The Terrapins, however, outscored the Seminoles, 13-5, to close regulation and 16-8 in overtime. Junior guard Mara Freshour scored 23 points to lead Florida State (16-11, 6-6).
Frese said there was no way she was going to miss the game, which represented the final regular season home game for Langhorne, Harper, forward Jade Perry and guards Ashleigh Newman and Christie Marrone.
“From the recruiting process and in their four years they?ve put their legacy out there,” Frese said. “They?ve set the bar, they?ve set the standard and for every team and every player that comes to Maryland now the bar has been set extremely high.”
