March 27, 2012
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RALEIGH, N.C. - Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points and Tianna Hawkins and Alicia DeVaughn added 10 apiece for Maryland, but the Terrapins fell to top-seeded Notre Dame 80-49 Tuesday night in the Regional Final of the Raleigh Region.
After rallying from 18 points to beat reigning national champion Texas A&M two days earlier in the regional semifinal, the Terps (31-5) finally slipped into a deficit they couldn't escape. The loss ended the careers of seniors Anjale Barrett, Lynetta Kizer and Kim Rodgers.
"Obviously tonight was Notre Dame's night, I thought they were spectacular," head coach Brenda Frese said. "They really did a tremendous job on all ends of the floor. A difficult night obviously for us getting into any kind of rhythm, I thought we looked really tired and I think a lot of that was having to come back in the Texas A&M game from being down 18. I felt like our energy and effort was spent in the game before."
"I told the team in the locker that I appreciate the journey and the ride that we got to spend this season. I couldn't have asked for a better team in terms of how committed everyone was this season, our seniors leave with two elite eight finishes and two ACC Championships."
After the game was tied four minutes in, the Irish (34-3) broke things open midway through the first half, holding the Terps without a field goal for roughly 5 1/2 minutes during a 26-7 run that pushed their lead into double figures. They led 40-21 at the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Terrapins continued to push, but couldn't cut into the Irish's lead.
Skylar Diggins led Notre Dame with 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Natalie Achonwa scored 18, Kayla McBride had 16 and Natalie Novosel notched 14.
In their careers, Barrett, Rodgers and Kizer went to two Elite Eights (2009, 2012) and won two ACC titles (2009, 2012). Barrett and Rodgers redshirted when the Terps went to the Elite Eight in 2008.
Thomas was named to the AP All-America First Team Tuesday. She is Maryland's first All-American since Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman were honored in 2009.
Maryland ended its season winning 10 of its last 11 games. The Terrapins won the program's 10th ACC title earlier this month and notched the fourth 30-win season in school history. They advanced to their ninth Elite Eight and fourth in head coach Brenda Frese's 10 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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