Jan. 8, 2012
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Tianna Hawkins grabbed a missed free throw and scored with 1:49 left in overtime to help No. 5 Maryland beat North Carolina (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 25 AP) 78-72 on Sunday.
Hawkins' putback gave the Terrapins (16-0, 3-0 ACC) a 73-72 lead, and they held on from there.
Alyssa Thomas scored 24 points for Maryland, including a reverse layup as time expired in regulation to force the extra period. Anjale Barrett added 16 points, going 4 for 4 on free throws in the final 1:08 of overtime.
Chay Shegog, the ACC's leading scorer, led North Carolina (12-3, 2-1) with 20 points.
The Tar Heels led 66-60 after a driving bank shot by Tierra Ruffin-Pratt with 1:29 to go.
But Laurin Mincy hit a 3-pointer, and Barrett followed with a transition layup for the Terrapins.
Brittany Rountree made 1 of 2 free throws for North Carolina with 12.7 seconds left, setting up Thomas' tying shot.
Maryland led 36-30 at the break, the Tar Heels came out strong to take a two-point lead at 40-38 with 16:57 to play.
Lynetta Kizer finished with 10 points, including two key three-pointers in the second half.
The Terps, the nation's leading rebounding team, grabbed 54 boards to the Heels' 44. Hawkins led the Terrapins with 12 and Alicia DeVaughn had 11. Maryland also beat North Carolina in the paint, 36-32, and off second chance shots, 18-15. The Terps grabbed 20 offensive boards for the ninth game this year. Hawkins had seven.
Barrett dished nine assists, as the Terps had 15 altogether.
The win is head coach Brenda Frese's second at Carolina, as the Terps beat then-No. 1 UNC in Chapel Hill 98-95 in overtime on Feb. 9, 2006.
The Terrapins' 16-0 start is their best since they went 18-0 to start the 2006-07 season.
Next, the Terrapins will hit the road once again this week to take on No. 12 Miami (11-3, 1-1) Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Thursday's game will be streamed live online for a fee at HurricaneSports.com.
Maryland is ranked No. 5 in the latest Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Division I Top 25 Coaches' polls.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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