February 8, 1999

Box Score

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Despite another stellar performance from freshman forward Deedee Warley, Maryland was defeated by No. 18 Virginia 69-55 in women's basketball action tonight at the First National Bank of Maryland Court at Cole Field House. The Cavaliers raised their record to 16-6 (9-3 in the ACC), while the Terps fell to 5-17 (2-10 in the ACC).

Maryland came out strong against the Cavaliers, jumping out to a 25-18 lead with 3:55 left in the first half. The Cavaliers, however, scored nine consecutive points to take a 27-25 lead at the intermission. The Terps hung tough through most of the second half, trailing by only 58-55 with 3:47 left in the game, but Virginia sank eight free throws in the final minutes to hold on for the win.

The Terps trailed 45-35 with 11:25 to play, but a jumper by Kelley Gibson and five straight points by Warley pulled Maryland within three with 8:45 remaining. Virginia pushed its lead to 52-44 before a Gibson 3-pointer and another Warley layin kept the Terps in contention, with both teams trading baskets until sophomore Erin Stovall's 3-point dagger lifted the Cavs to a six-point lead, 61-55, with 3:13 to play. Maryland never scored again.

Stovall led the Cavaliers with 19 points. Senior forward DeMya Walker and senior forward Yanick Clay each added 13 points in the winning effort.

Warley broke the 20-point mark for the third consecutive game by scoring 23 points to lead all scorers. In addition, with 12 rebounds, Warley recorded her second double-double in the past three games. Earlier today, she was named the ACC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season.

Maryland hosts No. 14 North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday while Virginia hosts N.C. State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.