Iowa State is back in the women's NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season, facing a brand new — yet familiar — opponent.The No. 7 seed Cyclones are heading to the West Coast for the first two rounds. Iowa State will take on No. 10 seed Maryland with a chance to advance to the second round, which would likely mean a rematch of the 2009 Elite Eight, where the Cyclones fell to No. 2 seed Stanford.Here's what to know about Maryland ahead of Friday's first-round game.Maryland women's basketball: Record, stats, NCAA Tournament history and moreCampus location: College Park, MarylandRecord: 19-13Conference: Big Ten (9-9; finished tied for 6th)NCAA Tournament history: Maryland has been a fixture in the NCAA Tournament for two decades. Since head coach Brenda Frese arrived in 2002, the Terrapins have been to 19 NCAA Tournaments, including every tournament since 2011. The Terps won the 2006 NCAA championship and have been to the Elite Eight or further six times since then.Maryland women's basketball players to watch: Shyanne Sellers, Jakia Brown-TurnerJunior guard Shyanne Sellers is Maryland's go-to player.Sellers ranks first on the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), second in rebounds (5.8 per game) and first in assists (5.5 per game). She has eight games this year with 20 or more points, including a 25-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist performance in a Big Ten Tournament victory over conference champion Ohio State.Fifth-year forward Jakia Brown-Turner is second on the team in points (13.8 per game) and leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game. Iowa State vs. Maryland women's basketball series historyThese two programs have never met.That doesn't mean there isn't history between the teams, however:Maryland coach Brenda Frese has plenty of Iowa connections Brenda Frese, Maryland's longtime head coach, should be a familiar face and name to Iowans.Frese grew up in Cedar Rapids and starred at Washington High School before playing at Arizona. Frese became an assistant coach at Iowa State in 1995 and stayed through the 1998-99 season, in which the Cyclones made the Elite Eight after upsetting No. 1 UConn. Frese's sister, Stacy, became a star player at Iowa State while Brenda was an assistant coach. Stacy Frese averaged 15.6 points per game across three seasons in Ames and was a second-team All-American in 1999-2000 as a senior.Brenda Frese left Iowa State to become the head coach at Ball State in 1999. After short stints there and at Minnesota, she became the head coach at Maryland in 2002 and has been there ever since.Other Iowa tiesIowa State assistant coach Billy Fennelly spent the 2007-08 season on the Maryland coaching staff.Additionally, Maryland has recruited Iowans in the past. Former West Des Moines Valley star Zoe Young signed with Maryland in 2019 and spent three years on the roster before ending her playing career early due to injuries.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa State is back in the women's NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season, facing a brand new — yet familiar — opponent.
The No. 7 seed Cyclones are heading to the West Coast for the first two rounds. Iowa State will take on No. 10 seed Maryland with a chance to advance to the second round, which would likely mean a rematch of the 2009 Elite Eight, where the Cyclones fell to No. 2 seed Stanford.
Here's what to know about Maryland ahead of Friday's first-round game.
Maryland women's basketball: Record, stats, NCAA Tournament history and more
Campus location: College Park, Maryland
Record: 19-13
Conference: Big Ten (9-9; finished tied for 6th)
NCAA Tournament history: Maryland has been a fixture in the NCAA Tournament for two decades. Since head coach Brenda Frese arrived in 2002, the Terrapins have been to 19 NCAA Tournaments, including every tournament since 2011.
The Terps won the 2006 NCAA championship and have been to the Elite Eight or further six times since then.
Maryland women's basketball players to watch: Shyanne Sellers, Jakia Brown-Turner
Junior guard Shyanne Sellers is Maryland's go-to player.
Sellers ranks first on the team in scoring (15.5 points per game), second in rebounds (5.8 per game) and first in assists (5.5 per game). She has eight games this year with 20 or more points, including a 25-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist performance in a Big Ten Tournament victory over conference champion Ohio State.
Fifth-year forward Jakia Brown-Turner is second on the team in points (13.8 per game) and leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game.
Iowa State vs. Maryland women's basketball series history
These two programs have never met.
That doesn't mean there isn't history between the teams, however:
Maryland coach Brenda Frese has plenty of Iowa connections
Brenda Frese, Maryland's longtime head coach, should be a familiar face and name to Iowans.
Frese grew up in Cedar Rapids and starred at Washington High School before playing at Arizona. Frese became an assistant coach at Iowa State in 1995 and stayed through the 1998-99 season, in which the Cyclones made the Elite Eight after upsetting No. 1 UConn.
Frese's sister, Stacy, became a star player at Iowa State while Brenda was an assistant coach. Stacy Frese averaged 15.6 points per game across three seasons in Ames and was a second-team All-American in 1999-2000 as a senior.
G Fiume
Head coach Brenda Frese of the Maryland Terrapins talks to her team during the game against the Syracuse Orange at Xfinity Center on November 19, 2023 in College Park, Maryland.
Brenda Frese left Iowa State to become the head coach at Ball State in 1999. After short stints there and at Minnesota, she became the head coach at Maryland in 2002 and has been there ever since.
Other Iowa ties
Iowa State assistant coach Billy Fennelly spent the 2007-08 season on the Maryland coaching staff.
Aaron J. Thornton
Zoe Young #12 of the Maryland Terrapins dribbles the ball while being guarded by Kaylah Rainey #1 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half of a college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Additionally, Maryland has recruited Iowans in the past. Former West Des Moines Valley star Zoe Young signed with Maryland in 2019 and spent three years on the roster before ending her playing career early due to injuries.