Forwarda Crystal Langhorne (1), Jade Perry (55), and Marissa Coleman and guard Kristi Toliver (20) helped the Terps win the title in 2006.
The Terrapin women’s basketball team shopped in Budapest, cruised the River Seine, climbed the Eiffel Tower and explored the Louvre Museum.
Oh yeah, the reigning NCAA champions also fit basketball into their busy schedule, as the Terps squared off against three club women’s basketball teams in four games overseas as part of a tour to Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and France.
“The trip was phenomenal,” coach Brenda Frese said. “For a lot of players, it was their first time over to Europe. It was a tremendous way to cap off the season.”
On the court, the Terps started their European tour the same way they ended last year’s dream season – with an overtime win. Just as they did in April’s national championship game, the Terps battled back from a double-digit halftime deficit and forced overtime against Herozenburg in Austria, proving once again that overtime was their time, winning 86-83.
The Terps followed the victory with a win in the Czech Republic against Sparta Prague the next day. After a couple days off, the Terps went to Paris to play two games against Insep, the former team of junior center Aurelie Noirez. The Terps lost their first overtime battle of the year in the first contest but turned things around in the second game for a 10-point win.
“It was great because it was still the same coach and I saw some of my old teammates,” Noirez said of her return to France. “I got to say ‘hi’ to them and show them how I play. It was very intense. I almost cried.”
The Terps took the games seriously but just tried to enjoy time with them. Frese focused more on the positive experience her players could receive more than the results of the exhibition games.
Frese tinkered with her rotations and gave minutes to seldom-used seniors Angel Ross and Charmaine Carr, who played their last games as Terps over the week.
Even with the expected rust and proverbial bull’s-eyes the Terps had on their backs from being touted as the NCAA’s best, the tightness of competition still surprised some of the players.
“I remember seeing other teams play in the past and win by like 50,” forward Crystal Langhorne said. “So I was very surprised at the competition.”
“The style of play is so different,” forward Marissa Coleman said. “You get a couple extra steps [in Europe]. The teams were all fundamentally sound though.”
But for once, the emphasis didn’t have to be on basketball for the Terps. With so much free time and less focus on practicing for perfection, the Terps had opportunities to soak up the sights of Europe. They spent time with friends and family in foreign cities they may never have thought about traveling to before the trip.
The players appreciated the picturesque architecture, fascinating tours and exotic food. But even Langhorne, an experienced European traveler who had previously been to Hungary and France with Coleman as part of the U19 World Championships, let her American lifestyle bleed through.
“Hungarian goulash was good, but we ate a lot of pizza and a lot of McDonald’s,” Langhorne said. “My favorite part of the trip was shopping. I really like shopping, and it was great to get to do it there.”
Although they enjoyed their stay across Europe, the Terps are happy to be back in the United States, where they can return to their everyday lifestyles. Frese, for one, learned a lot from the voyage and feels fortunate for what she has ahead of her.
“Seeing differences in other countries makes you really appreciate what we have over here.”
Contact reporter Mark Selig at mseligdbk@gmail.com.
