Nov. 25, 2006

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Three Terrapins posted double-doubles to lead Maryland in a 3-2 season-ending victory over North Carolina before 242 at the Comcast Center. The Terps conclude the year at 13-18 (6-16 ACC) while the Tar Heels stand at 9-13 (11-20 ACC).

The Terrapins outblocked the Tar Heels (18-11) and registered a higher hitting percentage (.231-.148). Maryland freshman Katie Usher had 11 block assists, establishing her as the Terrapin single-season leader for block assists with 180 for the year.

"It was a great way to finish the season with two wins particularly against a rival like North Carolina. They are a strong and competitive team each year," said head coach Janice Kruger. "It was good to see the seniors go out on a high note."

Jade Brown (.344) led all players and recorded a career-high 27 kills today, adding 16 digs and three blocks, while Beth Gillming (.294) notched her sixth double-double (15 kills, 11 digs) and Maggie Schmelzle (.225) recorded her third of the season (14 kills, 18 digs).

Senior setter Teryn Papp and Hayley Hanson combined for 56 assists, while senior Tina Aramburu notched seven digs for the Terps as libero. The Terrapins had 66 assists and 70 digs in the match.

After the Tar Heels built an 8-15 lead in the first game, the Terps scored seven of the next eight points with kills coming from Mary Beth Brown and Jade Brown to come within one at 15-16. At 21-24, Gillming's critical kill from Papp sparked the Terps on a seven point run to take the lead 28-24. The Terps closed the game on another kill from Gillming and a block by Usher and Mary Beth Brown.

Mary Beth Brown tied her career record of blocks, swatting eight block assists and a solo block against North Carolina. She finished with seven kills and four digs.

North Carolina senior Amy Beaver had four kills at the start of the third game, when Usher registered a kill from Hanson for 1-4. The Tar Heels widened the gap to 8-13 before the Terps closed at 15-16 and again at 21-22 with key kills from Schmelzle, Gillming and Jade Brown. The Tar Heels held the lead and went on to win, 26-30, on a kill from Megan Owens.

The Terps and the Tar Heels went back and forth in the third game, with North Carolina pulling ahead 12-15. Mary Beth Brown's kill started a surge for the Terps as they scored eight of the next 10 points for a 20-17 lead. The teams were tied again late in the game at 29-29, when Schmelzle and Usher paired up for a key block for game point. A kill from Usher and a Tar Heel error gave the Terps the 32-30 win.

The teams were tied early in the fourth game, when three Terp errors helped push North Carolina ahead 7-11. Yet the Terps regained their momentum and tied the game at 16-16, on blocking from Jade Brown and Kathleen Wilson and strong attacks from Gillming and Mary Beth Brown. Kills from Beaver and Megan Owens kept the Terrapins at bay as the Tar Heels won the game 21-30 to force a fifth game.

The Terps had a 3-1 lead early in the fifth game and extended their lead to 7-3 on key blocking from Usher, Schmelzle and Mary Beth Brown. Two consecutive kills from Jade Brown increased Maryland's lead at 9-7. The Tar Heels came within one at 11-10 with kills from Beaver and Heather Brooks, but the Terps pulled ahead to 14-10 on a solo block by Mary Beth Brown and kills from Schmelzle and Jade Brown. North Carolina scored the next two points, but Mary Beth Brown downed the final kill for the match, 15-12.

"We hope to carry the momentum of these wins into the spring season and fall," said Kruger.