No. 11 N. Carolina falls to No. 10 Maryland 85-59

(AP) No. 11 N. Carolina falls to No. 10 Maryland 85-59
By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md.
Sylvia Hatchell screamed, waved her arms and even got a technical foul.

Nothing she could do could help North Carolina against revenge-minded Maryland.

Tianna Hawkins scored 25, Alyssa Thomas had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the 10th-ranked Terrapins beat No. 11 North Carolina 85-59 Thursday night to end the Tar Heels’ 11-game winning streak.

Thomas fell two assists short of her second career triple-double and Chloe Pavlech scored 18 for Maryland (16-3, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Terrapins are unbeaten since falling to North Carolina on Jan. 3.

Maryland was intent upon avenging that 60-57 loss, and the Tar Heels were unable to stop them. North Carolina fell behind early and never led the Terrapins went up 19-18.

“We didn’t start out the game the very well, defensively or offensively,” Hatchell said. “They got rolling, they shot 65 percent in the first half. In the second half we tried to match them, as physical as it was, and their intensity, and all we could do was put them on the foul line.”

Maryland dominated in almost every way.

“We played our game today,” Thomas said. “We didn’t let them frustrate us. We were the more physical team out there today, and they had no answer for us.”

Maryland coach Brenda Frese said, “Wow, that was fun. It speaks volumes of the pride we have in the locker room. For our team to come out and execute in the dominating fashion that they did tonight was pretty special.”

In the first game, Maryland let a six-point halftime lead vanish. In this one, the Terrapins were relentless in the second half.

“We locked in,” Frese said. “It was as close to a perfect 40-minute game that we played all season.”

Krista Gross and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt each scored 15 for the Tar Heels (18-2, 6-1), who fell into third place in the ACC behind Duke and the Maryland. North Carolina went 1 for 19 from 3-point range.

Maryland, in contrast, shot 58 percent from the floor, and Pavlech had more 3-pointers (two) than UNC.

“They’re a very good team,” Hatchell said. “Nobody’s shot the ball that well against all year. We’ll learn from it.”

Maryland led 41-30 before Thomas scored seven points in a 14-4 run that upped the margin to 21 with 12:48 left. Hatchell received a technical foul and Ruffin-Pratt, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer, picked up her fourth foul during the pivotal stretch.

North Carolina had not lost since Dec. 2, 102-57 at Tennessee.

The Terrapins got a scare with 5:14 left in the first half when Thomas leaped for a long rebound and was undercut by North Carolina guard Brittany Rountree, who was also in pursuit of the loose ball. Thomas rolled off Rountree’s back and landed on her hip in obvious pain. Thomas was helped to the locker room but missed less than three minutes of playing time before returning.

“It was definitely a scary moment, but nothing that hasn’t happened before,” Thomas said. “Just a bump.”

Maryland could not afford to lose her. Not only does Thomas rank second in the ACC in scoring and rebounding, but Maryland dressed only eight players.

Hawkins and Pavlech each had 12 points to help the Terrapins take a 37-25 halftime lead.

Getting two baskets and four assists from Thomas in the opening eight minutes, Maryland took a 17-10 lead before the Tar Heels used an 8-0 spurt to move in front.

Pavlech then hit a jumper and her second 3-pointer to spark a 9-0 run that made it 26-18. At that point, the Terrapins were 12 for 18 from the floor and Thomas had assists on half their baskets.