Every week, staff writer Phillip Suitts will take a look at the careers of a number of former Terrapins athletes embarking on professional careers in a variety of leagues. Every Thursday, it’s former women’s basketball players.
Kristi Toliver, Guard, Los Angeles Sparks
2013 stats: 14.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, .471 FG%, .769 FT%
Skinny: With NBA stars Chris Paul and Kevin Durant in attendance, Toliver scored a team-high 19 points Friday in an 87-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. It was the first meeting between the Sparks and the Lynx since the Lynx swept the Sparks in last season’s Western Conference Finals. Toliver’s 19 points also doubled as her second-highest output of the season. She also chipped in with three assists and zero turnovers, two rebounds and a steal. Sunday, Toliver scored 12, picked up four assists and zero turnovers once again, one rebound, and three steals in a 79-69 win over the Washington Mystics. Toliver had been struggling shooting from three-point range, but in the two games this week she went 6-of-9 on 3-pointers.
Tianna Hawkins, Forward, Seattle Storm
2013 stats: 3.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.0 apg, .565 FG%, 1.000 FT%
Skinny: Hawkins had the best game of her brief WNBA career Saturday. The sixth overall pick of the 2013 draft scored a team-high and a career-best 17 points Saturday in a 92-70 loss to the Tulsa Shock. Hawkins played a career-high 24 minutes and went 7-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. She also had four rebounds. Friday, just one night earlier, Hawkins played only two minutes in a 91-86 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars.
Crystal Langhorne, Forward/Center, Washington Mystics
2013 stats: 13.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, .535 FG%, .593 FT%
Skinny: Despite Langhorne scoring a team-high 16 points and grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds, the Mystics couldn’t pull out the victory Sunday, falling to Toliver and the Sparks. The Sparks-Mystics game featured three former Terps — Toliver, Langhorne, and Sparks guard/forward Marissa Coleman. Out of the former Terps, Langhorne scored the most points. However, Langhorne’s performance Friday wasn’t as impressive. She finished with four points on 2-of-6 shooting and four rebounds in a 90-82 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. The Mystics went 0-3 on their three-game road trip.
Marissa Coleman, Guard/Forward, Los Angeles Sparks
2013 stats: 7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, .432 FG%, .583 FT%
Skinny: After starting both games last week, this week Coleman was relegated to the bench. Also, after a three-game streak in which Coleman played at least 27 minutes in each game, her minutes dwindled. She played 19 minutes on Friday and 16 on Sunday. When Coleman was on the court, things didn’t get much better. She scored a combined seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. She grabbed a combined two boards and dished out a combined three assists.
Lynetta Kizer, Forward, Phoenix Mercury
2013 stats: 2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.0 apg, .467 FG%, 1.000 FT%
Skinny: Kizer played only six combined minutes this week. The former Terp didn’t even attempt a shot in Friday’s victory over the Mystics. On Tuesday, Kizer missed her only shot from the field in the Mercury’s 83-77 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars. Kizer still hasn’t started a game for the Mercury this season.
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