East Carolina University
Maryland
No. 23 Maryland Downs ECU, 76-60
November 26, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 26, 2010
Box Score |
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No. 23 Maryland 76, East Carolina 60 
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Coach Macy Postgame Comments
GREENVILLE, N.C. - No. 23 Maryland used an 18-8 run out of halftime to establish a decisive edge Friday as the Terrapins captured a 76-60 victory over East Carolina at Minges Coliseum in the first game of the Ninth-Annual Pirate Invitational. ECU moves to 2-3 overall while Maryland improves to 4-1.
Junior Ashley Clarke fell one steal short of a double-double, recording 12 points to go along with a career-best nine steals - six in the second half alone. She was one of three players in double figures as Kim Gay and Shala Hodges also put in 12 each. Celeste Stewart distributed the ball well, recording five of the Pirates' nine assists while Gay was stellar from the line, hitting eight of her nine attempts - both numbers representing single-game personal highs.
The Terps dominated the paint and the boards, scoring 46 points down low while holding a 58-31 advantage on the glass. Maryland tallied 29 offensive rebounds to produce 23 second chance points. ECU did force 26 turnovers, 15 of them by way of steals while coughing up possession 16 times. Additionally, for the first time this season, the Pirate bench was outscored, albeit by a 26-25 margin.
Both teams struggled from the line, with Maryland connecting on just 50 percent (17-for-34) as compared to a 65-percent showing for the home team (19-for-29). The Terps entered the contest as the best free-throw shooting team in the ACC. The teams also combined for a 4-for-26 performance from beyond the arc, with East Carolina making three of those triples.
The Pirates led 3-0 after the first media timeout, getting a free throw from Clarke and a Stewart jumper. Maryland responded with a 13-2 run, pushing ahead 13-5 on a free throw make by Alica DeVaughn.
After Anjale Barrett hit a jumper to make the score 20-10 at the 7:49 mark, Gay cut the deficit back to single digits with a fast break jumper with 5:16 to go in the half. Two Clarke free throws kept the Terrapin lead at nine, 32-23, as the period wound down, but Kim Rodgers capped the scoring with a jumper in the paint to allow Maryland an 11-point halftime edge.
Crystal Wilson led ECU with six points in the first 20 minutes while Lynetta Kizer put in seven for the visitors. The Terrapins also held the advantage from the floor (39.4-26.9) and on the glass (31-18).
Following the decisive run out of the break, which left Maryland with a 52-31 lead, the Pirates held the Terrapins scoreless for over three minutes while scoring seven-straight to pull within 14. DeVaughn quickly put Maryland back on top by 19, however, capping a 5-0 run with a jumper.
A layup by Hodges kept the Pirates within striking distance at 59-45 with 7:26 remaining, but it was as close as East Carolina would get as a Katie Paschal layup ended the game's scoring with 25 seconds on the clock.
ECU closes out the Ninth-Annual Pirate Invitational Sunday, facing Massachusetts. Tipoff from Minges Coliseum is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Terrapins and Minutewomen will square off tomorrow at 1 in the second contest of tourney play.
