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No. 5 Maryland Beats Miami, Wins ACC Title

The Associated Press

Miami's Riquna Williams, right, drives past Maryland's Anjale Barrett, left during the second half.

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The Associated Press

Published: March 1, 2009

CORAL GABLES - For the first time in 20 years, Maryland is the Atlantic Coast Conference champion.

Marissa Coleman had 17 points and 16 rebounds, Marah Strickland also scored 17 and the fifth-ranked Terrapins enhanced their chances of claiming a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament by beating Miami 89-64 on Sunday to clinch their first ACC crown since 1989.

The Terrapins won the national title in 2006 — and their seniors who were on that team will soon have ACC rings for their jewelry boxes.

"Obviously, just a special win for us," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. "So proud of this team. With this win, being ACC champions, and like I told them, the chance and the opportunity to leave their legacy and their mark and win the first ACC title in 20 years. We did it together, each and every game."

Kristi Toliver scored 11, while Lynetta Kizer and Anjale Barrett each added 10 for Maryland (25-4, 12-2), which took command with a 16-3 run over a 4:49 stretch of the first half and closed the regular season on a nine-game winning streak.

Riquna Williams scored 17 points and Lamese James added 16 in her final home game for Miami (13-16, 2-12). Epiphany Woodson scored 10 for the Hurricanes, who were outrebounded 52-35 by the bigger Terrapins.

"They're an awesome team," Miami coach Katie Meier said.

Maryland is actually tied atop the ACC with Florida State, which beat Wake Forest later Sunday. But the Terrapins hold the tiebreaker edge over the Seminoles, thanks to a 72-71 win in Tallahassee on Feb. 2, a game where Toliver drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Terps haven't lost since, and probably never realized a month ago that Toliver's game-winner would ultimately decide the ACC title.

No such drama was needed Sunday.

Maryland never trailed and seized control with one big spurt. Demauria Liles' three-point play with 9:11 left in the half pushed Maryland's lead, which had been 14-11 only five minutes earlier, to 30-14.

Miami was never within fewer than 10 points the rest of the way.

"They're such a good team," James said. "You can't give them any daylight."

The Hurricanes, who are now 1-8 all-time against Maryland, got as close as 14 on three occasions in the second half, before the Terrapins decided it was time to lock up the title.

"We cut it to 14," Meier said, "and by the time I finished clapping it was 20."

A 13-2 run over 2:43 of the second half sealed Miami's fate, with Strickland capping the burst by hitting a 3-pointer with 11:36 left to give Maryland what was then its biggest lead, 68-43.

"At the beginning of the year, the coaches told us more so than anything, that's probably one of the biggest things you can accomplish," Coleman said. "That shows a team has brought it for the whole conference season. That's what we did."

Miami will play a first-round ACC tourney game Thursday. Maryland, which also hasn't won the ACC tournament since 1989 and has only made it to the conference final twice in that span, has a bye into Friday's quarterfinal round.

And here's a good omen for the Terps in their quest to sweep the ACC crowns: The No. 1 seeded team in the conference tournament has won the title seven times in the past eight years.

"We'll get regrouped, get rested and get ready," Frese said.

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