Terrapins take highest seed in 14 years into NCAA first-round matchup with Sacred Heart

3/16/2006 2:38 PM

Maryland earned its highest NCAA tournament seed in 14 years. For the Terrapins, it wasn't quite high enough.

The Terps (28-4) expected a top spot, but were seeded second in the Albuquerque Regional and will meet No. 15 Sacred Heart (26-4) on Sunday at University Park, Pa.

``I'm not surprised they slighted us,'' coach Brenda Frese said. ``That's kind of been (happening) all season long. We're used to that. It's great motivation for us. I always love when the media does that.''

Maryland also has extra motivation as the No. 1 seed it felt it deserved went to Ohio State, the team that knocked the Terps out of last season's tournament with a 75-65 second-round defeat. A rematch would come in the regional final.

Maryland is making its third straight NCAA appearance and 15th overall with a 14-14 record in the tournament. The Terps were last a No. 2 seed in 1992 and have only earned a No. 1 once, in 1989.

``It's disappointing, but we have a chance now to prove we do deserve it,'' said Terps guard Shay Doron, who averages 14.1 points and 4.2 assists.

Maryland recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1991-93 and posted a 12-2 record in the tough ACC, including a 98-95 overtime win at top-ranked North Carolina on Feb. 9.

The Terps beat Georgia Tech and then-No. 2 Duke in the ACC tournament before falling to the Tar Heels 91-80 in the championship game March 5.

Five Terps scored double figures in that defeat, as Jade Perry led the way with 18 points and Ashleigh Newman and Marissa Coleman each scored 14. Coleman, the ACC rookie of the year, is Maryland's second-leading scorer with 14.6 points per game and also averages 7.7 rebounds.

Sophomore Crystal Langhorne, who scored 12 points against North Carolina, leads the team in points (16.3), rebounds (8.6) and shooting percentage (65.9).

Langhorne, Coleman, Doron, Kristi Toliver and Laura Harper each average at least 11.0 points per contest for Maryland.

Sacred Heart earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a 69-65 win over Quinnipiac last Saturday, giving the Pioneers their first Northeast Conference tourney title. Sacred Heart is making its first tournament appearance since becoming a Division I program seven years ago.

``We're excited to be placed at Penn State,'' said Pioneers coach Ed Swanson, whose team also won its first NEC regular-season crown. ``It's more than just our 12 players and coaches. Now all our fans have an opportunity to come and support us the way they have all season. It should make it a very exciting atmosphere for us.''

The Pioneers are riding a 10-game winning streak, and their 26-4 mark this season is the best in school history.

Junior guard Amanda Pape, the Northeast Conference player of the year and tournament MVP, leads Sacred Heart with 18.0 points and 3.3 steals while also grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game. Pape had 25 points and 14 rebounds in the conference championship game.

Maryland won the only meeting with Sacred Heart 90-49 on Nov. 28, 2003.

The winner of Sunday's matchup will play seventh-seeded St. John's or No. 10 California on Tuesday.