Jan. 4, 2004
Box Score|
Quotes
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland women's basketball team used a stifling defense and rebounding to top ACC rival Virginia, 69-55, in ACC action on Sunday afternoon at Comcast Center. The Terps limited the Cavaliers to 12 first-half points and led by as many as 28 points to claim the win and move to 2-0 in ACC play for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
Maryland (10-3, 2-0 ACC) had four players score in double figures with senior Delvona Oliver (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) and freshman Shay Doron (Great Neck, N.Y./Christ the King) leading the way with 14 points and nine rebounds each. Senior Crystal Washington (Clinton, Md./Bishop McNamara) and junior Alli Spence (Lafayette, Colo./Chatfield) both added 12 points.
The Terps dominated the first half, limiting the Cavaliers to just one basket in the first nine minutes of the game and eight percent shooting. Meanwhile, offensively, Maryland opened the game with a steal and a junior Anesia Smith (Alexandria, Va./Hayfield) fast break layup to jump start a 14-2 run. A fast break layup from Doron capped the run, forcing UVA (5-7, 0-2 ACC) to take a time out.
The Wahoos came out of the timeout on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 14-8 over the next one and a half minutes, but the Terps came right back and closed out the period on a 20-4 tear to take a commanding 34-12 lead at the break. Virginia had just five buckets in the first half, shooting 16.7 percent from the field. The Terps shot 45.5 percent, led by Oliver who had 10 points at the end of the half on 5-for-6 shooting.
The second half began with Maryland scoring six-straight points, pushing its lead to 40-12, its biggest margin of the afternoon. UVA's Brandi Teamer scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, including a three-pointer just before the final buzzer sounded, but it was not enough as the Terps easily came away with the win.
Maryland dominated the Cavaliers on the boards, as well, grabbing 37 defensive boards and outrebounding Virginia, 53-34, for the game. No other UVA player besides Teamer had more than eight points.
The win snaps a six-game Maryland losing streak to the Cavaliers. It is also the Terps' largest margin of victory since a 75-54 win over NC State on Feb. 25, 2001.
Maryland plays its first road ACC game of the season, traveling to Wake Forest (7-6, 0-2 ACC) on Friday, Jan. 9. The game, which was previously scheduled for a 7 p.m. start has been rescheduled for an 11 a.m. tip-off. The Demon Deacons will be hosting Middle School Day.
-- TERPS --
