Nov. 27, 2009

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - A slow start and a potentially costly injury took some of the fun out of Maryland's 41st consecutive home victory.

Freshman Tianna Hawkins had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the Terrapins beat Howard 79-51 Friday night despite playing the second half without leading scorer and rebounder Lynetta Kizer, who left with a sprained left ankle.

Kizer was injured with 1:21 left in the first half. The 6-foot-4 sophomore fell to the floor near the foul line and groaned in agony before being helped from the court.

Kizer, who came in averaging 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds, returned to the bench in the second half with the aid of a crutch and with her foot in a boot.

"I won't really know her status until (Saturday)," coach Brenda Frese said. "Obviously when you only have 10 healthy players, we need to remain healthy. This may be her first injury, so that's always a psychological battle - to have to deal with the first time you injure yourself."

Lori Bjork scored 16 points and Diandra Tchatchouang had 14 for the Terrapins (5-1), who found themselves locked in a tie game late in the first half.

"I think Thanksgiving dinner was a little bit too kind to us for the first 30 minutes of the game," Frese said. "It was a very sluggish start."

Zykia Brown led Howard (1-4) with 18 points, and Saadia Doyle had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Maryland took control by closing the first half with a 13-2 run. Bjork and Kim Rodgers contributed 3-pointers to the surge, and the Terrapins held the Bison without a field goal over the final 3:40.

Hawkins opened the second half with a jumper, igniting another 13-2 spurt that boosted Maryland's lead to 52-30. That was more than enough to seal the Terrapins' second straight win after a 29-point defeat at Mississippi State.

The Bison scored the game's first two baskets and used a 9-3 run to take a 14-13 lead midway through the first half. It was 18-all before Bjork hit a jumper and a 3-pointer, but Howard answered with two straight field goals to keep the pressure on.

"When you're a freshman and you have the chance to get home for a day and eat, it's hard to come back and leave your family," said Bjork, the only healthy senior on the squad.

A short jump shot by Kizer put the Terps up 28-26, and Maryland never relinquished the lead.