Mizrachi Gets Right to Point for Maryland : Women’s basketball: Sophomore guard from Israel leads nation’s top-ranked team against No. 2 Virginia.

The most bewildering moment in Limor Mizrachi’s life in America has not happened on the basketball court. And it hasn’t occurred while communicating with her University of Maryland teammates, even if center Jessie Hicks’ gentle drawl sometimes poses problems.

No, it’s that simple American greeting that really throws off the Terrapins’ starting point guard.

How are you?

“When I first came here, people would say, ‘Hi, how are you?’ ” said Mizrachi, a 5-foot-7 sophomore from Givataim, Israel. “I don’t know these people and they ask me, ‘How are you?’ It’s never happened before. And they didn’t wait for an answer and they keep going like they didn’t even say anything.

“That was strange. I said, ‘What’s going on here? Everyone does this?’ ”

Things are simpler once she gets on the basketball court with the nation’s top-ranked women’s team, which plays No. 2-ranked Virginia tonight at Maryland’s Cole Field House.

Mizrachi is averaging 9.1 points and 4.8 assists. She gives the Terrapins a much-needed outside threat, making 24 of 49 three-point shots.

Yet her story goes far beyond the gymnasium. A year ago, Mizrachi walked around with a basketball in one hand and a gas mask in the other during the Persian Gulf War.

It was the second year of her mandatory two-year duty in the Israeli army. Initially, Mizrachi, a fitness instructor, was pleased because she was assigned to the weightlifting complex. (“I could wear sweats instead of a uniform,” she said.)

Enjoying the simple things became a difficult task. Stores were closed, travel was limited and practicing jump shots was reduced to a daydream.

A friend’s home suffered major damage from falling debris during one attack. “It was bad,” Mizrachi said. “My aunt’s home, too, but not that bad. When the missiles broke apart, it touched her house and broke the glass. She was hysterical. It’s terrible. She just left the house and came back. But she was OK.

“There was nothing you can do,” she said. “You just needed to pray that nothing will happen. That’s what we did when we heard the sirens. Every family prayed that the missiles would not land in their home.

“Every time you hear it, all the (phone) lines were busy. Everyone was calling each other to make sure everything was OK.”

Gradually, life returned to some semblance of normalcy during the conflict. Her national team began practicing at different times during the day, depending on the situation. Even when the team couldn’t practice, Mizrachi worked out by herself.

During those solitary days of practice, Mizrachi had no idea that Maryland Coach Chris Weller already had taken notice of her talents. Weller watched a game film of Israel’s Aluma Goren and spotted another point guard. It was Mizrachi.

When Goren left Maryland after last season, Weller won the recruiting battle with Clemson for Mizrachi. She was the starting point guard for the Terrapins from day one and has managed to take control in their toughest games, for instance, scoring 12 of the last 14 points in a 63-59 victory over then No. 15-ranked Clemson in January.

“I thought that girl (Goren) was awesome,” Hicks said. “She’d fake you out of this world. We heard she wasn’t coming back and that another Israeli player was coming. And she (Mizrachi) is even better.”

The excitement of Maryland’s 20-1 record and No. 1 ranking--a first for the men’s or women’s program--has enabled Mizrachi not to dwell on the past. Her teammates, oddly enough, haven’t asked her much about the war.

“The first time someone asked me about it, it seems to me it was about five years ago,” Mizrachi said. “It happened only one year before. Really? The time passes.”

Now, life is relatively uncomplicated. Her assimilation is virtually complete on the basketball court. Her English? It is improving.

“It’s OK,” Hicks said. “She needs work because she’s not used to living here yet. But her style of clothing is fine. The only thing wrong is the language (barrier).”

Mizrachi is even joking in English.

Someone asked her: “So, how did you end up here at Maryland?”

“I flew,” she says, smiling. “Just kidding.”

At least Mizrachi didn’t say her arms were tired.