Meet "Agent Two-Zero" Kristi Toliver

At Maryland's press conference:
-Brenda Frese: "The Wizards have Agent Zero (Gilbert Arenas), and we have Two-Zero."

At LSU's press conference:
-Head Coach Van Chancellor: "What year is she (Kristi Toliver)?"
-Press: "She's a junior."
-Chancellor: "Well we won't be scheduling them next year…"

Later at the same press conference, coach Chancellor was asked to compare Toliver to a WNBA point guard, and he said a shorter Diana Taurasi. Not bad, considering Taurasi is on the U.S. National Team. And don't forget that Taurasi herself said Toliver was the best guard in the country.

Kristi Toliver has been lighting it up this season for the Terrapins, capping off her game with 23 points, seven assists, and four rebounds in #3 Maryland's 75-63 win over #4 LSU. Toliver earned the WNIT MVP for her play in the last three games. In her five games this season, she has averaged nearly 20 points and nine assists a game; not bad considering Maryland's competition including three ranked teams, two of whom were in the top 6.

But two other players deserve mention. Jade Perry and Laura Harper have been huge for the Terrapins in the absence of Crystal Langhorne. Perry, who earned a place on the WNIT All-Tournament Team, got a wild ovation from the crowd when her name was mentioned on the team. Perry has been matched up against All-Americans Courtney Paris of Oklahoma and Sylvia Fowles of LSU and has come through. In the final vs. LSU, she earned a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds and was often used as a counter to Fowles, during the second half when Fowles was ready to substitute in, and Maryland put Perry out with her to sub in. Same with Harper, who is probably the most underrated player on the team and had to deal with the same All-American players Perry did, stepped up her play with 14 points and six rebounds in the second half of the LSU game. Harper's play vs. Oklahoma earned her WMUC Player of the Game as her play kept the Sooners down in the frontcourt.

Maryland as a team looked great against LSU, only allowing two players over double digit points and out-rebounding the Tigers 50-34. Turnovers remain a problem for Maryland, as they had 18 to LSU's eight.

Coach Chancellor also mentioned that the Terrapins are capable of winning a national championship after this game. Considering Maryland has defeated powerhouses LSU and Oklahoma by double digits without the services of Crystal Langhorne and Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, it isn't a stretch for anyone to think this. Though, there is still a long season to play, and Maryland has plenty of games to go. Maryland is now 5-0 and awaits the Loyola Greyhounds on Tuesday night.

#3 Terps - #4 Tigers

It's a potential Final Four matchup on November 18th, #3 Maryland vs. #4 LSU. The status of Crystal Langhorne is unclear. She has missed 3 of the first 4 games of the season while recovering from an ankle sprain she suffered in practice about 3 weeks ago. She has been day-to-day, and will be a game-time decision today.

She may be greatly missed on the block today as the Terps take on Preseason All-American, Wade Trophy Candidate and Wooden Award Candidate Sylvia Fowles. Through 3 games, Fowles as compiled averages of 17 points, 7 rebounds and almost 3 steals a game. She is a walking double-double, as the senior has notched 63 in her career.

The fact is, Fowles is going to get hers. At 6-foot-6 she will be able to control the paint, and it will be up to the Terrapins to control the rest of the Tiger players. If Langhorne is to play today, that will be another body to go up against Fowles down low, as well as providing another option on the offensive side of the ball.

Quianna Chaney, a 5-foot-11 senior guard for the Tigers, can put the ball in the basket as well. She is shooting 47% from 3-point range so far this year, averaging almost 18 points a game. Both she and Fowles scored 25 this past Thursday against #17 Michigan State.

Both teams today are experienced, as they both rank in the top 5 in the nation in career starts. Both teams have played tough competition already and won, with the Terps beating then-#6 Oklahoma and #23 Notre Dame, while the Tigers beat #17 Michigan State in the WNIT Semifinals on Thursday.

They key for a Maryland win will be to contain the players surrounding Fowles. If the other 4 players on the court don't burn the Terps, then Maryland will have a much better chance to continue on undefeated and win the WNIT Championship. The Tigers have the same mentality though, wanting to stay undefeated. They will no doubt be looking to shut down the lethal 3-point shooting of Kristi Toliver.

It should be a fun one. Catch the pregame at 2:40 right here on WMUCsports.com, with the tipoff at 3:00. I will be on the call alongside Dave Vatz and Kyle Cox.