No. 10 Maryland women overpower Georgia Tech 66-57
1/20/2013 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2013
ATLANTA (AP) - Alyssa Thomas scored 28 points and helped No. 10 Maryland dominate the boards in a 66-57 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over Georgia Tech on Sunday.
Thomas also had 10 rebounds, one of three players in double figures for the Terrapins (15-3, 6-1), who piled up a 52-29 rebounding advantage over the Yellow Jackets.
Tianna Hawkins had 14 rebounds to go with 16 points, and Alicia DeVaughn grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 11 points for the Terrapins, who came in leading the nation in rebounding margin at plus-17 per game.
Maryland has outrebounded its opponent in every game this season and outscored Georgia Tech 42-28 in the paint.
Four consecutive baskets by Thomas started a 15-0 run early in the second half that gave Maryland a 47-31 lead with 14:28 to play.
The Yellow Jackets (8-10, 1-6) whittled the lead to five points, 58-53, with 2:51 left, but they got no closer.
Tyaunna Marshall led Georgia Tech with 18 points. That increased her career total to 1,255, 15th on the team's all-time list, one ahead of Sonja Mallory.
Maryland now holds a 47-18 edge in against Georgia Tech. The last time the teams met, the Terrapins prevailed 68-65 in last season's ACC tournament final. Thomas scored 29 points in that one, and Marshall scored 25.
Georgia Tech led 29-23 with 4:25 remaining until halftime, but the Terrapins scored the final nine points in the half. A layup by Hawkins gave them a 30-29 lead with 1:41 to go and she added another at the 40-second mark.
Hawkins moved into Maryland's top five in career rebounds with 942, passing Kris Kirchner (1978-80), who collected 936.
The Terrapins are a half-game behind ACC co-leaders Duke and North Carolina and will play host to the No. 11 Tar Heels on Thursday night.
