When she became head women’s basketball coach for the Terrapins five seasons ago, Brenda Frese inherited a program that had moderate success for a decade.
In the 10 years before Frese left Minnesota to come coach in College Park, the Terps had only three NCAA tournament appearances, never went further than the second round and finished in the top-25 only once.
Last season, Frese completed the program’s turnaround when she accomplished the highest level of success and led the Terps to a national championship. Tonight Frese won her 100th game as Terp head coach during an 80-61 over N.C. State at Comcast Center.
“It’s special because of what it means behind it, in terms of the players in our program that believed and took the chance to come here and be a part of this and as well as all the hard work with our coaching staff and our support staff,” Frese said. “When you hit milestones like that obviously what it symbolizes is what is special about it.”
The game itself reemphasized to the 6,886 in attendance just how far the Terps (16-0, 1-0 ACC) have come in the five seasons with Frese.
The win against the Wolfpack (11-4 ,0-1) gave the Terps their best start to the season ever, augmented the nation’s longest winning streak – 22 games dating back to last year – and showed they can handily put away a conference opponent.
The Terps led by 26 at halftime and coasted the rest of the way. Junior forward Laura Harper led the team with 17 points and was one of five players to score in double figures. Frese has stressed unselfishness and the team concept – a constant since Frese took over.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve improved every year,” senior guard Shay Doron said. “We’re just playing really well and trying to get better everyday for the long stretch; we’re hoping to take it all the way again.”
Frese’s 100 wins hardly compare to former coach Chris Weller, who has 499 career wins in 27 years with the Terps. But the 100 wins in five years shows that the Terps, who went 13-17 the year before Frese, are only getting more exciting.
With 100 wins in the last five years to prove it, the Terps can thank Brenda Frese for the excitement and the success.
Contact reporter Bryan Mann at bmanndbk@gmail.com
