An Astonishing Women's Game: Stanford vs. Maryland

Going closer to the Ending Four the number one seed Maryland and the number two Stanford will bow the competition tonight to dispose to the alongside step, the two teams will go to prove their own tool in the court and remark their behaviour to the Final Four.

The Cardinals would seem to have an advantage, considering they were set the amount two seed by the selection committee scarce weeks ago. The Terrapins have a sensation of under-dog because for most season, they obtain been left out of the national title, all the more being only two years indifferent from an NCAA term and with various of those title-winning players on the list.

"We want to prove that we are not a one-hit wonder," Maryland mark guard Kristi Toliver said. "This is a great team, one of the best in the country. But it's one object to say it. It's another to snap out and accomplish it."
In several ways and circumstances, Stanford and Maryland are in the same place, so it's commoving that they would heel literally playing against everyone other, in a game that appears to be the most equally matched of the four limited finals.

The two teams have a write of 33-3; both admit played and defeated some of the nation's first teams. Stanford wanted the number one seeded that was captured by Maryland and has used to egg on the players a postseason run that has incorporated the two bull wins in the early rounds and the victory against Pittsburgh 72-53 on Saturday.

"We've been in this stage before where we thought we deserved a No. 1 seed," senior guard Candice Wiggins said. "It truly comes down to this game. We can't epilogue approximately it. We can't say we should be this or that. This is the game that's going to prove it."

Stanford, who have won 21 games straight, probable testament need one of their greatest start-to-finish hard work of the season to defeat Maryland and got to the inaugural program's Final Four accommodate since 1997. In the former the Cardinal lost the regional finals in 2004, 2005 and '06.

"We really have been preparing to be in this position all season long," Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. "This company is ready to be in this position. ... We are action ahead of where we own been in the past in terms of preparation. We corner been working for this interval and I equitable hold confidence that our troupe will come outside and award their best effort."

Maryland will require no less of its players; their team is one of the most potent offensive teams in the territory that was shown by beaten in presiding contrivance Vanderbilt 80-66 in the regional semifinal. Four Maryland players, Crystal Langhornes, Toliver, Laura Harper and Marissa Coleman have guideline together 66 points in three NCAA Tournament games.

The Cardinal and the Terrapins haven't played against each other since 1982. However, Maryland isn't totally unknown. Langhorne, Coleman, Harper, Wiggins and Stanford center Jayne Appel bear played together on USA Basketball teams.

Some of the Terrapins players compass experienced the elevated of a federal title, and that may be the biggest baggage that divides these two teams.

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