For one half of yesterday's game at Comcast Center, Maryland outplayed No. 4 Duke. The Terrapins outscored the Blue Devils, shot better and showed more hustle before the second-largest women's basketball crowd in ACC history.
Unfortunately for Maryland, the impressive effort came 20 minutes too late. The Terrapins already had fallen behind by 20 before mounting their second-half comeback. Duke's 72-59 victory was its eighth straight against the Terrapins.
"I thought we played with great heart and great intensity all the way down to the wire," Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. "It's exciting to think about our future when we can compete . . . with a Duke."
The Blue Devils (22-3, 13-1) clinched their fourth straight conference title. Maryland (15-11, 7-8) dropped into fifth place.
There hadn't been this kind of atmosphere surrounding a women's basketball game at Maryland since the No. 1 Terrapins played No. 2 Virginia at sold-out Cole Field House -- the largest crowd for an ACC women's game (14,500) -- on Feb. 12, 1992. This game wasn't a sellout, but the 13,446 fans provided tremendous encouragement for Maryland.
Maryland's Delvona Oliver was one of three seniors playing in their final home game. "It just felt great, especially playing in front of 13,000 people," said Oliver, who led the Terrapins with 16 points. It's just the beginning for this program."
Maryland outscored the Blue Devils in the second half, 38-34. The Terrapins shot 53 percent and held Duke to 36 percent shooting after halftime.
With 1 minute 42 seconds remaining, Maryland had a chance to pull within six. Chrissy Fisher, who had just sank a three-point basket to cut Duke's lead to 66-59, was at the free throw line, shooting one-and-one. Fisher missed. Duke rebounded and called time out. After the break, Vicki Krapohl made a three-pointer to increase the lead to 10.
"In the past, we would have folded," said freshman Kalika France, who had 15 points and eight rebounds. "Because we had confidence, we didn't fold."
Duke's Alana Beard, one of the most talented players today, drew former and current Washington Mystics coaches, Marianne Stanley and Michael Adams, respectively, as well as other WNBA scouts to the game. Washington has the second pick in the upcoming league draft and is expected to select Beard, who finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.
• DUQUESNE 77, GEORGE WASHINGTON 60: The Dukes made a team-record 13 three-pointers, including five by Candace Futrell and four by Alga Bautre, in beating the visiting Colonials for the first time in more than 10 years. Futrell had 28 points and 10 rebounds and Bautre added 14 points for the Dukes (15-11, 10-5 Atlantic 10). GW (19-6, 12-2) had not lost to Duquesne since Jan. 4, 1994. Cathy Joens led the Colonials with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
• GEORGE MASON 64, TOWSON 52: Vernessa Neamo scored 22 points and became the Patriots' all-time assists leader and Coach Debbie Taneyhill won her 100th career game. Neamo finished with five steals and eight rebounds as visiting George Mason (15-7, 10-5 Colonial Athletic Association) won its fourth straight. Towson is 9-15, 1-14.
• HOLY CROSS 79, NAVY 60: Crusaders guard Maggie Fontana had 17 points and Navy leading scorer Courtney Davidson missed 13 of 15 field goal attempts in Annapolis. Davidson entered the game 18 points from becoming the school's all-time leading scorer, but finished with eight. Senior Adrienne Roseti had 20 points for Navy (12-15, 5-7 Patriot).
• COLGATE 79, AMERICAN 61: Emily Braseth and Malissa Burke scored 19 points apiece as the Raiders cruised to a Patriot League win over the Eagles (13-12, 8-4) at Bender Arena. AU got 19 points and seven rebounds from Chanel Hunt. Colgate is 16-9, 8-4.
