Liles stood out for her athleticism and hustle.
The hits just keep coming for Terrapin women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese.
Senior forward Dee Liles is no longer a member of the Terps for academic reasons, the Washington Post reported earlier today.
Liles’ dismissal is the latest misfortune in what has been a rough offseason for the program. After falling to Louisville in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, Frese has now bid farewell to five players, including graduating stars Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver.
Just one day after those Terp greats went No. 2 and 3, respectively, in April’s WNBA Draft, sophomore forward Drew Mingo announced her intent to transfer. Three days after that, sophomore guard Marah Strickland did the same.
The program’s latest episode of attrition leaves center Lynetta Kizer as the team’s only returning starter. Liles started 35 of 36 games last year for the Terps, leading the team in rebounds (9 per game) and blocked shots (1.7). She also averaged 10.6 points per game and led the team in field goal percentage (52.1).
“We enjoyed having Dee as part of the Maryland basketball program,” Maryland head coach Brenda Frese said in a press release Friday. “We wish her all the best in the future.”
Liles was a four-year starter at Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Md., where she garnered first team All-Metro honors from The Washington Post her senior season. She committed to the Terps, but failed to qualify academically and ended up at Gulf Coast Community College. After leading her team to the 2008 JCAA National Championship and earning recognition as arguably the nation’s top junior college prospect, Liles transferred back to this university.
Liles will remain enrolled this semester, according to the release.
We’ll keep you up-to-date with more news as it rolls out.
Jonas Shaffer is The Diamondback’s women’s basketball beat writer. He can be reached at shaffer@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jonas_shaffer.