February 11, 1999

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Nikki Teasley and 14th-ranked North Carolina were too strong and too deep for Maryland on Thursday night as the Tar Heels downed the Terrapins 78-63 in Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball action.

Teasley, a sophomore guard from Hagerstown, Md., led the Tar Heels with 19 points as North Carolina (23-5, 10-4 ACC) broke open a 41-41 deadlock early in the second half. The pesky Terrapins (5-18, 2-11) clung to a tie game for five minutes into the second half until the Heels went on a 13-4 run to lead 57-48 with 11:49 to play. North Carolina reeled off a 15-6 run moments later to lead 72- 54 on LaQuanda Barksdales putback with only 4:54 remaining.

Jackie Higgins scored eight of her 16 points while the Tar Heels mounted an 18-point advantage. Teasley scored all seven second half points during the stretch, and Barksdale accounted for seven of her 14 during the run. Other UNC players in double figures were Juana Brown with 11 and Yanick Clay with 10. North Carolina shot 54 percent during the second half, compensating for 38 percent shooting in the first period.

Maryland shot 44 percent in the first half and played a strong defense to stay close and actually take a 35-33 lead on a pair of Ginji Perry free throws with 2:03 before the intermission. Jessica Gaspar's jumper knotted the score for the seventh time and Teasley's 3-pointer lifted the Heels to a 38-35 advantage. A pair of Teasley free throws and a Perry layin at the buzzer kept Maryland within striking distance at halftime.

Maryland, which within the last 10 days has also been tied with No. 9 Duke at the half and trailed No. 18 Virginia by only three in the final three minutes, was too young and too thin down the stretch. The Terps were led by senior guard Kelley Gibson who paced the Terrapins with 15 points and three 3-pointers. Freshman guard March Strickland added 13 and freshman forward Deedee Warley scored 10.

Maryland travels to NC State in a regionally-televised game on ACC-TV next Monday evening at 7 p.m. North Carolina returns to Chapel Hill to host No. 18 Virginia in an ESPN2 tipoff at 1 p.m.