Feb. 24, 2000

Recap| Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland ended a 17-game losing drought to Virginia (its first win in the series since 1993), snapped a four-game losing skid over the past two weeks and brought to an end a four-game win streak for the No. 16-ranked Cavaliers.

The Terrapins also guaranteed themselves at least a .500 season -- remarkable when considering nine freshmen and sophomores and their 6-21 record of just a year ago. The Terps, 14-12 overall and 5-10 in the ACC, have more than doubled their win total from last season and can double their ACC win total with a win at Georgia Tech on Sunday. Yet none of those notes told the story of Maryland's 76-71 win at Cole Field House:

** Unheralded senior Antonieta Gabriel stole the show in her final home game, scoring 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting. She had never before scored more than seven points or even taken more than eight shots. Gabriel scored 15 of her 21 while playing all 20 minutes of the second half and helping the Terps stretch their lead to as many as nine.

** Gabriel had only scored 17 points against ACC opponents all season. She had only scored 32 points all season. Her 21 points vs. Virginia on Feb. 24 were more than half of her prior 41 against the ACC --- in her entire career. Entering the game, she had averaged just 1.3 points and 10.7 minutes.

Gabriel's remarkable 21-point effort raised her season scoring average from 1.3 to 2.1 points per game.

** Maryland's senior night starting lineup contained three new additions: Gabriel, Cara Ferris and Branka Bogunovic.

** In a game of oddities, Maryland outrebounded an ACC opponent for just the second time this season. The other was a 74-58 upset at Clemson. The Terps, bolstered by the ACC's leading 3-point duo of Tiffany Brown and March? Strickland, failed to hit a 3-point shot for the first time in ACC action and just the second time this season. Brown was 0 for 6 from 3-point range, Strickland was 0 for 5.

** Averaging only 63.1 points in ACC games, Maryland scored 76 points against Virginia to mark its second-highest offensive production against ACC opposition and its best since the turn of the new millennium. Maryland last scored more points in a 98-47 non-conference win over Brown on Dec. 29. It was also the first time in nine games this season that Maryland won a game while allowing more than 70 points.

** Only once, at North Carolina on Jan. 30, had the Terps ever gone even one half without a 3-point basket this season.

** Terp freshman Vicki Brick still is bidding to become the first freshman in 20 seasons to lead the ACC in steals. She posted three thefts against Virginia to maintain a 3.23 average for the season. She ranks 27th nationally in steals and is the fifth-leading freshman theft artist in the country.

** Brick's 4.6 assists and 3.2 steals both are the third-best freshman figures in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

** March? Strickland scored in double figures for the sixth-straight game and, despite shooting 0 for 5 from 3-point range, still is bidding to become the first Terp ever to lead the ACC in 3-point percentage. Even after missing all five attempts against Virginia, she boasts an ACC-leading .413 percentage with one regular season game remaining.

** Likewise, Maryland senior Tiffany Brown is bidding to become the first Terp ever to lead the ACC in 3-point field goals per game. She boasts 66 for the season and 2.5 per game, just ahead of Georgia Tech's Danielle Donehew who has made 61 and averages 2.4. Ironically, Maryland is at Georgia Tech on Sunday to end the regular season.

** Sunday's game in Atlanta will determine the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds in next week's ACC Tournament. Currently, the Yellow Jackets are 6-9 in the ACC and one game ahead of the Terrapins, 5-10. A Maryland win would force a sixth-place tie with Maryland drawing the No. 6 seed by virtue of quality wins over each of the top two teams in the ACC --- Virginia and Duke. The No. 7 seed will open play in the ACC Tournament on Friday, March 3 against the No. 8 seed (either Florida State or Wake Forest). The No. 6 seed will open tourney play against NC State on Saturday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. The Wolfpack is already locked into the No. 3 seed following a 69-52 loss to Georgia Tech on Thursday.

** Maryland and Georgia Tech each enter Sunday's sixth-seed showdown on the heels of momentous victories over nationally-ranked ACC powers. Maryland downed No. 16-ranked and ACC-leading Virginia. Georgia Tech upended No. 14-ranked and third-place NC State.