Dec. 2, 1999

Recap| Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Postgame comments from Maryland coach Chris Weller and North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell:

Weller on the final minutes: "We were down by only four and then it became seven, and then we just had to foul in the end. Carolina did a good job of staying strong. I thought we were taking it to them pretty well and they didn't get flustered. I thought that was a big key to the game. They kept themselves poised when we were trying to attack them. When the lead got back to seven and we got to about the two-minute mark, I think it took a little wind out of our sails that we couldn't get the lead. And I think [North Carolina] dug in a little bit."

Weller on the Terps: "What I like about our team is that we played with great heart. We played confidently. We took it right to them. They're a very physical team and I thought we were very physical. I thought we ran the court very hard. We were about even on the boards. We were even turnover-wise and even in just about all the critical stats. We played even in the game. I'm very pleased. It's just about where we left off last year, just barely missing against the top 10 and top 15 teams. But it's only December, so we think it's a pretty positive start to the ACC. I think tonight was indicative of how you're going to see us this entire year. You will not see this Maryland team not playing hard, and not without a lot of enthusiasm. I liked our chemistry. I like this team."

Weller on defending Deedee Warley: "We were trying to do a few things with Deedee. We swung her up to the high post and she just didn't knock some of the shots down -- but we got 'em! And normally Deedee'll hit those. She missed those, but she did a lot of other things, and she had the guts to take them. That's her best shot, really. I was really pleased that we were able to get her open in that area. I know that [North Carolina] did not want her open there, but we got her open. I loved it when they played that 'triangle & 2.' I said, 'alright, we'll get Deedee up there and knock those down!' But she just didn't hit them tonight."

Hatchell on the game: "It was what we expected. We knew it was going to be tough up here, we knew Maryland was a much-improved team. They're a very good team, I think they're going to do well in the conference. We're going to get better and I'm sure that Maryland will, too. I'm just glad that we got this game, on the road, over early. Maryland's tougher to play later in the season because they're like us, they get better, a lot better, as time moves along. I don't like coming up here late in the season. Tonight was tough, but it's always tougher, later."

Hatchell on the Terrapins: "First of all, they can take it inside. Warley's just tough in there. She's just really tough. They've got some heigth and size, they've got quickness and outside shooters. They've got really the whole package. I think they'll get a lot better as time goes along and I think they will give people in this conference some fits. They did it to us, tonight. I thought we played pretty well, really. We scored 92 points, but they scored 79. We beat them just by outscoring them. Their defense was tough and it will only get better."

Hatchell on Maryland's rebounding: "Maryland is always a great rebounding team. Their only loss had been to Penn State and it was the only game they'd been outrebounded. I told our team at halftime, 'I can tell you right now [Coach Weller]'s in there chewing them out about rebounding.' I think at halftime we had about six or seven more rebounds than they did. I said, 'I can guarantee you that they're going to come out and crash the boards in the second half.'"