Brenda Frese and her players had the same answers: They’re focused. They’re excited. And they’re ready to go.

The No. 7-seed Terrapin women’s basketball team begins NCAA tournament play Sunday for the second-straight season when it faces No. 10-seed Wisconsin-Green Bay (27-3) as the favorite.

But after a week of studying film and seeing coaches run Wisconsin-Green Bay’s possible offensive sets, any chance of the Terps overlooking the Horizon League champions has vanished.

“They’re definitely coming in here with confidence, and I feel like that’s a problem in itself if they think they’re going to come on our home court and beat us,” sophomore guard Kalika France said. “We’re definitely focused and ready to play.”

France (11.2 points per game) and sophomore Shay Doron (17.6 points per game) are rested following a season full of injuries. Doron’s shoulder has hampered her since January, and France’s tendinitis in her knees keeps her at “80 percent,” Frese said. But both players have shown they can play through pain, and will need to utilize their quickness against the Phoenix guards.

Inside, freshman forward and ACC Rookie of the Year Crystal Langhorne said she is not nervous about her first tournament appearance. With the poise of an upperclassman, Langhorne (17 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game) knows her teammates count on her down low.

“Once I get out there after the first bit, I’ll be fine,” Langhorne said.

Wisconsin-Green Bay’s biggest threat is senior forward Tiffany Mor, who averages 16.2 points per game on 62 percent shooting, including 44 percent from 3-point range. At 6-feet-1-inch, she poses matchup problems for the Terps’ shorter perimeter players and has the ability to draw post players away from the basket.

“It’s going to be really important for me and Jade and Aurelie to get out there and defend the 3-pointers because they’re shooting like guards,” Langhorne said. “It will be a rough night if we don’t.”

Aiding Mor is 5-foot-8-inch senior guard Abby Scharlow (13.2 points per game), who shoots 37 percent from beyond the arc. Marksmenship is a common trait on the Phoenix team, which makes 48 percent of its shots, including 38 percent from downtown. Wisconsin-Green Bay’s 40-10 second-half run in the Horizon tournament quarterfinals included nine 3-pointers in the final 15 minutes.

“We’ve got to defend and we’ve got to defend the three,” Frese said.

The Terps faced a similar team, Northern Colorado, in their regular season finale, an 87-79 win. The Terp defense allowed 16 3-pointers from a myriad of shooters. Asked if Wisconsin-Green Bay reminds her of that team, Frese said, “A ton, but with a 27-3 record.”

With the advantage of a home crowd, a strong start defensively could set the tone early — a key, considering the Terps are 1-9 when trailing at halftime.

“That makes the difference from whether a team believes they can hang around with you or whether or not they’re ready to pack their bags up and ready to leave,” France said. “We’ve got to come out here and send a statement, not only to them, but to the teams who are also watching.”

A fast start will rely on the Terps’ eight underclassmen to overcome any nervousness, and senior guard Anesia Smith to calm them if they don’t. Doron and France said the butterflies from last year are likely gone. Langhorne said she was nervous before the ACC tournament — in which she averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game.

“These freshmen are unlike any other freshmen,” France said. “They’ve played and they have a lot of confidence. And that’s basically what you need to get over the butterflies that you have. They understand that this is a game. You win some, you lose some. You just go out there and give it your all and hope that it’s enough to pull out a win.”