Veteran Duke Blue Devils knock off young Maryland Terrapins

DURHAM, N.C. -- Through much of Sunday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a pocket of red-wearing Maryland women's basketball fans cheered and waved foam fingers. But they sat quietly in the waning moments of the Terrapins' 71-59 loss to No. 8 Duke.

"The first 36 minutes we were there," Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. "The last four minutes, you saw veterans for Duke step up and provide great leadership."

Despite a gutsy effort, the Terrapins (18-9, 5-7) faded down the stretch as the too-talented Blue Devils (23-4, 11-1) showed why they are the class of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Maryland center Lynetta Kizer, who did not start in the previous four games, had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Karima Christmas led Duke with a career-high 25 points.

While Duke seems to have the veteran presence to make a run in March, the young Terrapins are still wondering whether they will make the NCAA tournament. Maryland's loss here will add pressure on the team to win at Boston College on Thursday and at home against No. 10 Florida State next Sunday in order to secure an at-large bid.

"I think we continue to take one day at a time," Frese said when asked about her team's NCAA tournament credentials. "I think there's a lot of great basketball for us with the two games we have left and with the ACC tournament. When you play hard and compete like we did today, those things will all take care of themselves."

Maryland has a poor ACC record and few impressive out-of-conference wins, but it has played Duke tough twice this season. The Blue Devils won at Maryland, 58-57, on Jan. 24.

After all, the Terrapins shocked the Blue Devils by overcoming a 13-point second-half deficit to claim the 2006 NCAA title. Maryland women's basketball fans still like to joke that Duke's national championship banner is hanging in College Park.

"Our team believes we can beat them," Frese said of playing the Blue Devils. "You watch teams come in here and lay an egg. We have confidence because we've done it in the past."

In a physical game on Sunday, an unfriendly tone was struck before tip-off. An unidentified Maryland player allegedly bumped through a line of Duke players before the singing of the national anthem.

"That [ticked] us off," said Duke forward Joy Cheek, who scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting. "That ignited the fire even more."

But in a game that seesawed through seven lead changes, Maryland stood toe-to-toe with Duke. The Terrapins hung tough in a first half in which Duke made 7 of 12 attempts from three-point range. And while it seemed like Maryland might eventually fall back to earth, it did not let up in the second half.

But the turning point seemed to come with a key swing for the Blue Devils. After Duke center Krystal Thomas put back a rebound, guard Jasmine Thomas followed it up by stripping Maryland's Lori Bjork and converting an easy fast-break layup that gave the Blue Devils a 52-47 lead with 6 minutes 31 seconds remaining.

"You could see their faces just drop," Cheek said of the Maryland players, adding, "I can't remember who I was looking at, but I was thinking, 'Yeah, we got them shook a little bit.' "

Va. Tech women win

Brittany Gordon had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead host Virginia Tech over Boston College, 69-64.

The victory snapped a six-game ACC losing streak for the Hokies (14-13, 3-9). The Eagles (14-13, 5-7) dropped their third conference game in a row.

-- VCU 65, GEORGE MASON 55: Courtney Hurt had 23 points and Kita Waller added 20 to lead the visiting Rams to a Colonial Athletic Association victory over the Patriots.

Amber Easter led George Mason (8-18, 1-14) with 16 points. Virginia Commonwealth improved to 18-9 overall, 11-4 in the CAA.