Crystal Langhorne

Maryland vs. Nebraska 9:30 P.M. [ESPN2] Was that less-than-impressive victory over Coppin State in Round 1 a sign of things to come for the Terps? Or did the Eagles' inspired play wake up the 2006 national champs? Either way, I'll say this: If the Maryland men's team had anyone as tough as Crystal Langhorne, it might be playing for a spot in the Sweet 16, too.

The Washington Mystics spent most of Thursday night trying to atone for yet another slow start. Methodically, they trimmed the deficit from 17points to 12 to six to three. For less than a minute, they even took a one-point lead. But in the closing minutes of a 79-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun that dropped the Mystics to 1-3 on the season, the same deficiencies that forced them into a sizable early hole ensured they would not complete their comeback attempt. The Mystics have trailed at halftime in each of their four games thus far and have trailed by 12 points after the first quarter in each of their past two contests.

University Park, Pa. -- Thanksgiving is eight months away, but Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese is already grateful that Crystal Langhorne is on her team. The sophomore center scored a game-high 30 points - including the final two field goals - to lift the Terps to an 81-74 victory over St. John's in the second round of the NCAA tournament here at the Bryce Jordan Center last night. Maryland women vs. Baylor NCAA tournament regional semifinals, Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, time and TV TBA

Maryland women's basketball guard Jackie Nared is leaving the university and will transfer to a program closer to home, an athletic department official confirmed. Nared, the daughter of former Maryland men's basketball player Greg Nared and a Portland, Ore., native, averaged 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 33 games for the Terps last year. Originally a member of the team's 2008 recruiting class, Nared sat out the 2008-09 season after qualifying issues delayed her enrollment until midseason.

COLLEGE PARK -- Crystal Langhorne and Laura Harper knew it had been a long time since a Maryland women's basketball team defeated Duke at home. Certainly neither of them had been a part of such an achievement in their three previous tries. But when the actual date of the Terps' last win over the Blue Devils here - Jan. 30, 1998 - was relayed to the senior frontcourt duo, both players gasped. Duke@Maryland Tonight, 7, ESPN2 Records: Maryland 19-1, 3-0 ACC; Duke 13-3, 2-0

By the time 2007 ends, Crystal Langhorne should supplant Vicky Bullett as the best player in the history of Maryland women's basketball. Already armed with a national championship that Bullett never won in her four seasons as a Terp, Langhorne, a 6-foot-2 junior, reached 1,000 points faster than anyone else in Maryland history and could surpass Bullett's 1,928, the all-time Maryland mark, next season. Langhorne should also wrest the school's rebounding mark of 968 away from Bullett, as well as further staking a claim as the field-goal percentage champion.

Et cetera Defending champion Terps lose men's soccer opener Despite a Ludwig Field record crowd of 6,718, the No. 1 Maryland men's soccer team saw its 16-game winning streak ended Friday night when two late goals by UCLA sparked the Bruins to 2-0 win in the Terps' season opener. No. 9 UCLA picked up goals in the 77th and 82nd minutes while handing defending NCAA champion Maryland its first shutout since Aug. 31, 2008, when the Terps fell, 1-0, to California in Los Angeles. That was also the only other blemish on Terps starting goalie sophomore Zac MacMath's record until Friday night.

The Washington Mystics spent most of Thursday night trying to atone for yet another slow start. Methodically, they trimmed the deficit from 17points to 12 to six to three. For less than a minute, they even took a one-point lead. But in the closing minutes of a 79-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun that dropped the Mystics to 1-3 on the season, the same deficiencies that forced them into a sizable early hole ensured they would not complete their comeback attempt. The Mystics have trailed at halftime in each of their four games thus far and have trailed by 12 points after the first quarter in each of their past two contests.

WNBA Langhorne's career-best 31 points lift Mystics, 95-85 Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) scored a career-high 31points and added 10 rebounds and the Washington Mystics (9-5) won their fourth straight home game with a 95-85 win over the Phoenix Mercury (5-9) on Sunday. Lindsey Harding added 24 points for the Mystics (9-5), who have won five of their past six. Langhorne scored 27 points Thursday and has averaged 27.6 points and 13 rebounds in her past three games. Elsewhere: Iziane Castros Marques had 25points and Angel McCoughtry (St. Frances)

For the past year, ever since Maryland won its first women's basketball national championship in Boston, a clip of either Kristi Toliver or Marissa Coleman has appeared during the introduction to ESPN's SportsCenter. If Toliver, Coleman or someone else from the Terps gets her SportsCenter moment for the coming year, she'll certainly earn it, as the Terps were given a virtual minefield to navigate when the NCAA tournament field was released last night. MARYLAND VS. HARVARD Dayton Regional first round, Hartford (Conn.

The Washington Capitals signed unrestricted free-agent goaltender Dany Sabourin, 29, to a one-year contract. Sabourin has played 57 games for the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks. He spent 2009-10 with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, going 28-27-0 with a 2.67 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and three shutouts. José Theodore, the Capitals' starter for much of 2009-10, is a free agent and is not expected to be retained. That leaves Washington with two 22-year-olds, Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, likely to get most of the starts.

WNBA Langhorne's career-best 31 points lift Mystics, 95-85 Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) scored a career-high 31points and added 10 rebounds and the Washington Mystics (9-5) won their fourth straight home game with a 95-85 win over the Phoenix Mercury (5-9) on Sunday. Lindsey Harding added 24 points for the Mystics (9-5), who have won five of their past six. Langhorne scored 27 points Thursday and has averaged 27.6 points and 13 rebounds in her past three games. Elsewhere: Iziane Castros Marques had 25points and Angel McCoughtry (St. Frances)

In 2006, the Maryland women's basketball team won the NCAA title in Boston, just a short ride from here down the Massachusetts Turnpike. But these Terrapins do not have Kristi Toliver and Crystal Langhorne. On Thursday night, Maryland received a major setback in its attempt to reach its seventh consecutive NCAA tournament, losing, 83-70, to Boston College at Conte Forum. "We put pressure on ourselves because we knew we controlled our destiny if we go out and win this game," guard Lori Bjork said.

Pro football Marks will be reporter for Versus on UFL games The United Football League announced Tuesday that local broadcaster Anita Marks will be part of a four-person team covering the new league on Versus. Marks will serve as a reporter along with play-by-play announcer Dave Sims, analyst Doug Flutie and reporter Kordell Stewart, a former Ravens quarterback. Marks, who co-hosts an afternoon talk show on 105.7 and hosts Ravens pre- and post-game shows, was a quarterback for the Miami Fury, a women's professional football team, for four years and the Florida Stingrays for one year.

WASHINGTON - -Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points and Diana Taurasi had 23 to help the Phoenix Mercury pick up its first road victory of the season with a 93-87 win over the host Washington Mystics on Thursday night. Temeka Johnson added 11 points and Kelly Mazzante scored 10 for the Mercury (6-3), who had key runs to close out the first and third quarters and then held off the Mystics' late rally. Alana Beard led five double-figure scorers with 21 points and had four steals, as the Mystics (4-2)