Latest news with #Frese
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maryland women's basketball's resilience shined despite Sweet 16 exit
Maryland women's basketball fell to the eventual national championship runner-up South Carolina in the Sweet 16, but its resilience proved strong when it mattered most. 'You're going to have moments that you are going to go through high highs and low lows,' head coach Brenda Frese said, 'and for them (the team), they can see how resilient they were through the course of the season and were able to come back out on top.' Advertisement The Terps rolled into the new year with a 14-0 record, but difficulties began once the calendar turned to 2025. 'This [season] ranked right up there because there were so many highs to start the season out and the win streak we had, and then the lows through the adversity that we faced with all the injuries,' Frese said. Maryland's first loss on Jan. 8 to USC was not a warning sign, as it fought hard against an eventual No. 1 seed. The Terps took their first gut punch in a win on Jan. 14 at home against Minnesota, though. In the first half of that game, Bri McDaniel tore her ACL, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. McDaniel averaged 10.6 points and 2.4 assists per game this season, and brought intensity and grit to both sides of the court. Advertisement Unfortunately for the Terps, a downward spiral began, losing their next three games — two of which were to eventual Final Four teams in Texas and UCLA. Not only was Maryland without McDaniel, Shyanne Sellers also got injured against Texas and missed its most difficult stretch of the season. 'Like I've shared with them, a lot of teams would have folded after losing Bri [McDaniel],' Frese said. Sellers eventually returned and played out the rest of her final season, but she never fully recovered from her knee injury. The Terps fell two more times — a slim one-point loss to Illinois on Senior Day and a blowout loss to Nebraska — both on their home floor. Advertisement The end of the regular season proved to be crucial. Maryland won six of its final seven games, and it finally looked like McDaniel's absence wasn't as apparent. Sarah Te-Biasu ended the season with a clutch game-winning shot in overtime against Ohio State, which the Terps had fallen to earlier in the season. Then came the Big Ten Tournament. Maryland was outclassed by a Michigan team it had beaten just 19 days prior, and things looked once again bleak with a two-week break until the NCAA Tournament. During that break, the Terps were given a lifeline. Maryland received a chance to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed. Advertisement The opening round of the NCAA tournament wasn't pretty. The Terps escaped with a win over No. 13-seed Norfolk State following a lackluster start. No. 5-seed Alabama was next, producing arguably the best game of the NCAA tournament. Maryland's season looked to end on its home floor, down by 17 points with Sellers and Kaylene Smikle in serious foul trouble. The Terps found a way to tie the game, though, as Te-Biasu saved the season with 12 seconds left, making a remarkable 3-pointer that sent the game to overtime. In overtime, Maryland had seemingly won the game, up by three points with six seconds remaining. Sarah Ashlee Barker then heaved a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer in hopes to tie the game. She missed, but was fouled by Saylor Poffenbarger and drained all three free throws. Off to a second overtime. Advertisement Barker scored 45 points but it wasn't enough. The Terps took the lead in the final period and never relented, advancing them to Birmingham, Alabama. The season ended in Birmingham against No. 1-seed South Carolina, but the Terps fought hard and may have pulled off the upset if not for Allie Kubek fouling out late. 'We had some people say we weren't going to make it out of the first round,' Kubek said after the game. 'I think coming here and proving them wrong is really special, and especially with this group of girls. They're really great. It's been a blessing.' Coming into the Sweet 16, Maryland didn't seem to have much of a chance against a juggernaut in the Gamecocks, but the Terps held a lead in the final three minutes and almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history. Advertisement 'Just to watch this team when it started back in Croatia, to form with 10 new players and to be able to go through all those highs and lows and to be able to trust the system, trust the coaching staff and really just continue to buy in and be able to take us to a Sweet 16 [was special],' Frese said. More from
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Carolina overcomes shooting woes, outlasts Maryland to reach Elite Eight
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The second half of Friday's Birmingham 2 Regional doubleheader featured coaching royalty — South Carolina's Dawn Staley and Maryland's Brenda Frese. Each is a national championship-winning coach and they were facing off for an Elite Eight berth. The game itself lived up to the hype, with multiple lead changes in a closely fought game. Ultimately, the No. 1 seed Gamecocks outlasted fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67. South Carolina will play in the Elite Eight for a fifth straight season and will try to advance to a fifth straight Final Four. Advertisement Gamecocks sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley led all scorers with 23 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Junior Chloe Kitts chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds to help pace the team. On the other end, Maryland's Kaylene Smikle had 17 points, tops among the four Terrapins who scored in double figures. South Carolina (33-3) extended its winning streak to eight games and will play No. 2 seed Duke — on a nine-game streak of its own — on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Maryland's chaotic week ends in narrow loss Few teams have had a week as taxing as Maryland's. The Terrapins played a classic round-of-32 game against Alabama — an 111-108 overtime thriller — then quickly turned around and traveled to Birmingham to face the nation's most dominant program. Advertisement 'You look at a game where we had multiple players play close to the entire 50 minutes,' Frese said Thursday. 'For our staff, around the clock with the scouting that has to take place and the transfer portal that, fortunately for us, opened on Tuesday as well. Little to no rest, but a lot of reset for the kids. Then getting back to actual practice (on Thursday). A lot has been going on.' Despite the circumstances, Maryland put forth an inspired effort, matching South Carolina at every turn and with a confidence that grew throughout the game. Toughness is a staple under Frese, and it was on display Friday, though the effort fell short. A scoring drought at the most inopportune time doomed Maryland late — a three-plus minute stretch without points from the 3:25 mark to nearly the end of regulation (25 seconds). The result was a memorable March run that fell short of the Elite Eight. Is there cause for concern for South Carolina? For the second consecutive game, South Carolina trailed at halftime. That's not common for a program as dominant as the Gamecocks. The second quarter was particularly troubling, where South Carolina failed to score a basket for nearly six minutes. In that time, Maryland turned a 19-16 deficit into a 25-22 lead and held control for the remainder of the quarter. Advertisement Kitts and Fulwiley combined for all 17 points in the first quarter, then went scoreless in the second. It was a collective struggle for South Carolina to find offense — the other four starters outside of Kitts combined to shoot just 1-for-13 from the field. As a team, South Carolina shot 32 percent from the field and 25 percent from the 3-point line. The second half saw a much better shooting split, particularly from the field at 48 percent. But the question looms: Would a similar scoring drought moving forward result in a different outcome? Outside of the shooting woes, South Carolina committed 17 turnovers that led to 18 Maryland points. That will be another area of emphasis before Sunday's game against Duke. While the offense evaded South Carolina in stretches, the defense made up for it, holding Maryland to 38 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from the 3-point line in the second half. Those misses allowed for the Gamecocks to play in transition and create offense, but Staley will be looking for ways to activate her team in the halfcourt before her team plays again. Fulwiley was needed spark for Gamecocks There was perhaps no louder moment inside Legacy Arena than the 24-second mark in the third quarter, courtesy of Fulwiley. She grabbed a rebound and raced up the court. A behind-the-back move and fadeaway jumper later, South Carolina broke a 50-50 tie and carried that momentum to a close win. Those plays set Fulwiley apart, and it's what Staley wants to see her make consistently. Fulwiley led all players with 16 second-half points. She's South Carolina's leader off the bench, and her development is a leading storyline. And taking Staley's coaching in stride has led to performances like Friday's game. Advertisement 'I think I kind of just took what (the coaches) were saying,' Fuwiley said Thursday. 'I had to understand that it's either I do it or I don't. I felt like I wanted to do it. It's been working for me lately. The standard that Dawn has got here is great, and I think every player should want to play under this standard.' Fulwiley's continued growth will help define South Carolina, now and into the future, with senior guards graduating after this season. Friday's game was another example of her sky-high potential and what she's capable of doing when playing to that potential. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Maryland Terrapins, South Carolina Gamecocks, Women's College Basketball, Women's NCAA Tournament 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
29-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
South Carolina overcomes shooting woes, outlasts Maryland to reach Elite Eight
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The second half of Friday's Birmingham 2 Regional doubleheader featured coaching royalty — South Carolina's Dawn Staley and Maryland's Brenda Frese. Each is a national championship-winning coach and they were facing off for an Elite Eight berth. The game itself lived up to the hype, with multiple lead changes in a closely fought game. Advertisement Ultimately, the No. 1 seed Gamecocks outlasted fourth-seeded Maryland 71-67. South Carolina will play in the Elite Eight for a fifth straight season and will try to advance to a fifth straight Final Four. Gamecocks sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley led all scorers with 23 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Junior Chloe Kitts chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds to help pace the team. On the other end, Maryland's Kaylene Smikle had 17 points, tops among the four Terrapins who scored in double figures. Fancy footwork at the rim 💃 @chloe1kitts #MarchMadness x 🎥 ESPN / @GamecockWBB — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 28, 2025 South Carolina (33-3) extended its winning streak to eight games and will play No. 2 seed Duke — on a nine-game streak of its own — on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Few teams have had a week as taxing as Maryland's. The Terrapins played a classic round-of-32 game against Alabama — an 111-108 overtime thriller — then quickly turned around and traveled to Birmingham to face the nation's most dominant program. 'You look at a game where we had multiple players play close to the entire 50 minutes,' Frese said Thursday. 'For our staff, around the clock with the scouting that has to take place and the transfer portal that, fortunately for us, opened on Tuesday as well. Little to no rest, but a lot of reset for the kids. Then getting back to actual practice (on Thursday). A lot has been going on.' Despite the circumstances, Maryland put forth an inspired effort, matching South Carolina at every turn and with a confidence that grew throughout the game. Toughness is a staple under Frese, and it was on display Friday, though the effort fell short. A scoring drought at the most inopportune time doomed Maryland late — a three-plus minute stretch without points from the 3:25 mark to nearly the end of regulation (25 seconds). The result was a memorable March run that fell short of the Elite Eight. Advertisement For the second consecutive game, South Carolina trailed at halftime. That's not common for a program as dominant as the Gamecocks. The second quarter was particularly troubling, where South Carolina failed to score a basket for nearly six minutes. In that time, Maryland turned a 19-16 deficit into a 25-22 lead and held control for the remainder of the quarter. Kitts and Fulwiley combined for all 17 points in the first quarter, then went scoreless in the second. It was a collective struggle for South Carolina to find offense — the other four starters outside of Kitts combined to shoot just 1-for-13 from the field. As a team, South Carolina shot 32 percent from the field and 25 percent from the 3-point line. The second half saw a much better shooting split, particularly from the field at 48 percent. But the question looms: Would a similar scoring drought moving forward result in a different outcome? Outside of the shooting woes, South Carolina committed 17 turnovers that led to 18 Maryland points. That will be another area of emphasis before Sunday's game against Duke. While the offense evaded South Carolina in stretches, the defense made up for it, holding Maryland to 38 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from the 3-point line in the second half. Those misses allowed for the Gamecocks to play in transition and create offense, but Staley will be looking for ways to activate her team in the halfcourt before her team plays again. There was perhaps no louder moment inside Legacy Arena than the 24-second mark in the third quarter, courtesy of Fulwiley. She grabbed a rebound and raced up the court. A behind-the-back move and fadeaway jumper later, South Carolina broke a 50-50 tie and carried that momentum to a close win. Those plays set Fulwiley apart, and it's what Staley wants to see her make consistently. FULL. COURT. FULWILEY 🔥 LET'S GO GAMECOCKS 📺 ESPN — South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 28, 2025 Fulwiley led all players with 16 second-half points. She's South Carolina's leader off the bench, and her development is a leading storyline. And taking Staley's coaching in stride has led to performances like Friday's game. 'I think I kind of just took what (the coaches) were saying,' Fuwiley said Thursday. 'I had to understand that it's either I do it or I don't. I felt like I wanted to do it. It's been working for me lately. The standard that Dawn has got here is great, and I think every player should want to play under this standard.' Fulwiley's continued growth will help define South Carolina, now and into the future, with senior guards graduating after this season. Friday's game was another example of her sky-high potential and what she's capable of doing when playing to that potential.
CNN
28-03-2025
- Science
- CNN
Fossilized fish up to 16 million years old found in Australia, with last meal still intact
Summary Paleontologists discovered a fossilized fish species dating back up to 16 million years with its last meal intact. Named Ferruaspis brocksi, the fish was preserved in goethite, allowing researchers to examine its stomach contents. Analysis revealed the fish primarily fed on phantom midge larvae and provided first evidence of Osmeriformes in Australia. The fossil showed pigmented cells, giving insight into the fish's coloration and possible shoaling behavior to evade predators. The discovery suggests this freshwater species thrived in what was once a lush rainforest environment during the Miocene Epoch. Paleontologists have discovered a newly identified fish species in Australia so well-preserved that they could determine its last meal — dating back up to 16 million years to the Miocene Epoch. Researchers unearthed the fossilized freshwater fish, named Ferruaspis brocksi, at the McGraths Flat site in central New South Wales, according to a study published March 17 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The study team excavated multiple fossils containing F. brocksi, each entombed in goethite, an iron-rich mineral that maintained the fish in extraordinary detail. This rare fossilization process allowed researchers to examine the species' structural features, including its soft tissue, stomach and coloration patterns. 'Every time I have a detailed look at a fossil from McGraths Flat, I am amazed by its detailed preservation,' study coauthor Dr. Michael Frese, associate professor and virologist at the University of Canberra, said via email. 'It's very surprising, (and) it's extremely rare to be able to tell the colour of a fossil fish like this.' Beyond identifying a newfound species, researchers uncovered the first detailed evidence of Osmeriformes, a group that includes modern-day graylings and smelts, in Australia. Until now, scientists could only speculate when smelts first arrived on the continent due to a lack of fossil evidence, but this new finding offers crucial insights into the region's ancient ecosystem, Frese said. Tracing a prehistoric food web Using high-powered microscopes, paleontologists analyzed the stomach contents and intestinal tract of F. brocksi and found the fish primarily fed on various types of phantom midge larvae — an almost transparent insect larvae — along with insect wings and even a small bivalve, or a mollusk with hinged shells. 'Knowing their diet helps us start to paint a picture of food chains and food webs in the original environments,' said Dr. Anthony Martin, a professor of practice in the department of environmental sciences at Emory University in Atlanta, who was not involved in the study. One specimen of fish had a freshwater mussel attached to its tail fin. The finding is rare because the lake sediments where F. brocksi were found wouldn't have supported an environment for the bivalve to reach sexual maturity and produce glochidia — the larval, parasitic stage of some freshwater mussels, Frese said. He added that it's likely the parasites infected the fish in a nearby river, suggesting a connection between the fossil site and a neighboring waterway. The stomach contents not only helped paleontologists identify what the fish were eating but also when they were feeding. 'Many extant species of Chaoborus (phantom midge larvae) do not occur in lakes with fishes, and those that do co-exist with fishes often conduct a diurnal migration to avoid predatory fishes during the daytime,' Frese said. 'As most Chaoborus larvae spent most of the day in the sediment, hiding from pelagic predators, F. brocksi would likely have preyed on Chaoborus at night.' A glimpse into history One of the most surprising discoveries was the presence of melanophores or pigmented cells, offering insight into the fish's coloration. The fossils revealed F. brocksi had a slender body, similar to modern-day smelts. The fish also presented evidence of countershading, in which the animal was darker on the top and lighter on its stomach, with two stripes running along the length of its body, according to the study. Frese noted that this coloration pattern may indicate a shoaling behavior, in which fish gather in loose social groups. The countershading also likely helped the species evade predators from above, Martin added. While central New South Wales is now characterized by plains and plateaus, during the Miocene, the region was surrounded by lush rainforests, according to the study. The discovery of F. brocksi west of the Great Dividing Range suggests that, unlike most surviving Osmeriformes, this species may have spent its entire life in freshwater, according to the study. 'While this study is focused on one species of fish,' Frese said, 'it is part of a broader ecosystem that we are piecing together by excavating fossils from the site.'
CNN
28-03-2025
- Science
- CNN
Fossilized fish up to 16 million years old found in Australia, with last meal still intact
Summary Paleontologists discovered a fossilized fish species dating back up to 16 million years with its last meal intact. Named Ferruaspis brocksi, the fish was preserved in goethite, allowing researchers to examine its stomach contents. Analysis revealed the fish primarily fed on phantom midge larvae and provided first evidence of Osmeriformes in Australia. The fossil showed pigmented cells, giving insight into the fish's coloration and possible shoaling behavior to evade predators. The discovery suggests this freshwater species thrived in what was once a lush rainforest environment during the Miocene Epoch. Paleontologists have discovered a newly identified fish species in Australia so well-preserved that they could determine its last meal — dating back up to 16 million years to the Miocene Epoch. Researchers unearthed the fossilized freshwater fish, named Ferruaspis brocksi, at the McGraths Flat site in central New South Wales, according to a study published March 17 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The study team excavated multiple fossils containing F. brocksi, each entombed in goethite, an iron-rich mineral that maintained the fish in extraordinary detail. This rare fossilization process allowed researchers to examine the species' structural features, including its soft tissue, stomach and coloration patterns. 'Every time I have a detailed look at a fossil from McGraths Flat, I am amazed by its detailed preservation,' study coauthor Dr. Michael Frese, associate professor and virologist at the University of Canberra, said via email. 'It's very surprising, (and) it's extremely rare to be able to tell the colour of a fossil fish like this.' Beyond identifying a newfound species, researchers uncovered the first detailed evidence of Osmeriformes, a group that includes modern-day graylings and smelts, in Australia. Until now, scientists could only speculate when smelts first arrived on the continent due to a lack of fossil evidence, but this new finding offers crucial insights into the region's ancient ecosystem, Frese said. Tracing a prehistoric food web Using high-powered microscopes, paleontologists analyzed the stomach contents and intestinal tract of F. brocksi and found the fish primarily fed on various types of phantom midge larvae — an almost transparent insect larvae — along with insect wings and even a small bivalve, or a mollusk with hinged shells. 'Knowing their diet helps us start to paint a picture of food chains and food webs in the original environments,' said Dr. Anthony Martin, a professor of practice in the department of environmental sciences at Emory University in Atlanta, who was not involved in the study. One specimen of fish had a freshwater mussel attached to its tail fin. The finding is rare because the lake sediments where F. brocksi were found wouldn't have supported an environment for the bivalve to reach sexual maturity and produce glochidia — the larval, parasitic stage of some freshwater mussels, Frese said. He added that it's likely the parasites infected the fish in a nearby river, suggesting a connection between the fossil site and a neighboring waterway. The stomach contents not only helped paleontologists identify what the fish were eating but also when they were feeding. 'Many extant species of Chaoborus (phantom midge larvae) do not occur in lakes with fishes, and those that do co-exist with fishes often conduct a diurnal migration to avoid predatory fishes during the daytime,' Frese said. 'As most Chaoborus larvae spent most of the day in the sediment, hiding from pelagic predators, F. brocksi would likely have preyed on Chaoborus at night.' A glimpse into history One of the most surprising discoveries was the presence of melanophores or pigmented cells, offering insight into the fish's coloration. The fossils revealed F. brocksi had a slender body, similar to modern-day smelts. The fish also presented evidence of countershading, in which the animal was darker on the top and lighter on its stomach, with two stripes running along the length of its body, according to the study. Frese noted that this coloration pattern may indicate a shoaling behavior, in which fish gather in loose social groups. The countershading also likely helped the species evade predators from above, Martin added. While central New South Wales is now characterized by plains and plateaus, during the Miocene, the region was surrounded by lush rainforests, according to the study. The discovery of F. brocksi west of the Great Dividing Range suggests that, unlike most surviving Osmeriformes, this species may have spent its entire life in freshwater, according to the study. 'While this study is focused on one species of fish,' Frese said, 'it is part of a broader ecosystem that we are piecing together by excavating fossils from the site.'
