Maryland had a little more to play for than Virginia Tech last night at Comcast Center but played with a little less purpose and was upset by the Hokies, 87-79.
Before an announced crowd of 2,833, the Hokies won their fourth straight against the No. 23 Terrapins and swept the regular season series.
Had the Terrapins (18-8, 7-7) beaten Virginia Tech (16-10, 5-8) in their final ACC game of the regular season, they would have finished tied for fourth place in the conference standings and earned the fifth seed and a first-round bye in the ACC tournament. It also would have given them their first winning record in the ACC since 1996-97. Instead, Maryland will have to play in the first round and must win four games for its first ACC tournament title since 1989.
"You've got to do it with the little things, and we haven't decided that that's important enough," Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. "We get all these great things -- playing in the number one facility in the country, great road trips, charters -- we get everything taken care of. But when it comes to doing the little things, it's hard for this young team to understand that's what separates you."
Adding to the Terps' woes were new injury concerns to leading scorer Shay Doron, who appeared to re-injure her troublesome right shoulder late in the game attempting unsuccessfully to draw a foul.
Virginia Tech, which had lost four of five, already knew it was going to play in the first round of the ACC tournament. The Hokies, who can't finish higher than seventh, were just trying to finish the season strong going into the tournament. They have one conference game remaining, against Miami (12-14, 4-9) in Blacksburg, Va., on Sunday.
"We need to get some momentum going into that conference tournament," Virginia Tech Coach Beth Dunkenberger said. "This win will hopefully pay off down the stretch."
Virginia Tech guard and Maryland native Dawn Chriss (St. John's) continued where she left off against Florida State on Saturday. Chriss scored 19 points -- 16 in the first half -- against the Terps after pouring in 33 against the Seminoles.
"I felt pretty good coming off the last game," Chriss said. "I think my mentality has changed a little bit. I'm coming out a lot more aggressive and I'm looking to shoot more."
Chriss wasn't the only Hokie scoring with ease against Maryland. Kerri Gardin finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her 11th career double-double. The Terrapins' defense didn't do much to slow Virginia Tech, which shot 61 percent to take a 48-39 halftime lead.
Maryland, which shot 48 percent in the first half, might have drawn closer had it not turned the ball over 11 times in the first half. Maryland finished with 24 turnovers.
• NORTH CAROLINA 89, VIRGINIA 60: Ivory Latta scored 19 points, making all four three-point shots, and the No. 8 Tar Heels completed a perfect home schedule.
Nikita Bell added 13 points, and LaTangela Atkinson had 10 for the Tar Heels (23-3, 11-2 ACC), who earned their largest margin of victory against Virginia.
North Carolina finished 15-0 at home and has gone 58-4 there the past four years. The Tar Heels will conclude the regular season Sunday at No. 2 Duke.
Brandi Teamer scored Virginia's first nine points but finished with only 11. Siedah Williams scored 10 for the Cavaliers (18-9, 7-6).
Virginia made only 21 of 68 field goal attempts (30.9 percent) and committed 29 turnovers. The Cavaliers failed to make a basket from the 6:06 mark of the first half to 13:57 of the second.
• GEORGE WASHINGTON 68, DUQUESNE 60: At Smith Center, Anna Montañana had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Colonials won their sixth straight.
GW (19-7, 12-3 Atlantic 10) overcame a one-point halftime deficit to pull away from the Dukes (9-17, 4-11). Jessica Simmonds added 15 points for the Colonials, who held the Dukes to 27 percent shooting in the second half. Maria Stankevich led Duquesne with 15 points and eight rebounds.
• GEORGE MASON 71, HOFSTRA 59: Sophomore forward Kristin Higy led five starters in double figures with 15 points as the visiting Patriots (11-14, 7-9 Colonial Athletic Association) opened a 25-point halftime lead over the Pride (12-13, 7-9).
