January 17, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman guard Ginji Perry scored a career-high 27 points on Sunday afternoon to lead Maryland to its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season, and its seventh in the last eight games against Florida State. The Terrapins raced to a 16-5 lead and never looked back as they downed the Seminoles 94-76 before a crowd of 2,152 at First National Bank of Maryland Court at Cole Field House.
It was Maryland's first ACC win since a 77-49 defeat of the Seminoles in the same building to end the regular season last year. This time, the Terrapins did it in near-record fashion, placing five players in double figures, scoring 50 first half points and flirting most of the game with school-record 70 percent shooting. Maryland finished with its best field goal performance since shoooting 62 percent at Georgia Tech on Feb. 19, 1997.
The Terrapins (3-13, 1-6 ACC) led comfortably by 11 with 10:22 to play in the opening period before Perry scored eight of her 17 first half points during an 8-0 Maryland run to stake the home team to a 16-point margin, 26-10, with eight minutes before intermission. Aided by 20 first half turnovers by FSU (6-10, 1-6), Maryland raised its lead to 25, its largest lead of the season.
Perry was the story for the Terps. The freshman and 1997 Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year enjoyed the finest day of her career. Joining Perry with career numbers was junior forward Cara Ferris recorded her second straight starting assignment. Senior Kelley Gibson posted a career-high 10 assists and recorded her first double-double of the season.
The Maryland victory overshadowed 28 points by Florida States Brooke Wyckoff who led three Seminoles in double-figure scoring.
Marylands 50-25 halftime margin not only marked its largest halftime lead of the year, it reflected the most points in a half this season for the Terps, and the most first half points by a Maryland team since scoring a school-record 72 on Dec. 1, 1992 vs. Drexel. Overall, it was the most points in a half for the Terps since scoring 55 in the second half during last years upset win over No. 7 North Carolina.
Maryland travels to Georgia Tech on Thursday, Jan. 21 to meet the Yellow Jackets in a regionally-televised game on FOX SportsSouth at 7 p.m. The Seminoles host Virginia next Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
