Maryland “Lady Terrapins” vs. Wake Forest “Lady Demon Decons”

Maryland fends of Wake Forest

Maryland overcomes 12-point deficit

Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, NC

Greensboro, NC – The top seeded “Lady Terrapins” from Maryland overcame a 12-point deficit to come back and hold off a scrappy Wake Forest team that looked as if they were going to pull the upset. A balanced attack led by Lynetta Kizer, the recently name ACC “Freshman of the Year” who recorded a double-double with 16 pt and 11 boards lead the way.

To say that the top seeded “Lady Terrapins” had their hands full with a Wake Forest team that is playing some pretty good basketball is an understatement. The game was evenly played throughout the entire contest.

Maryland used the inside play of Demauria Liles and Kizer to gain the early advantage. Wake Forest would counter with their exciting point guard Brooke Thomas and her running mate Alex Tchangoue. Tchangoue’s three-pointer at the midway point of the first half tied the game at 18-18.

Maryland would go on a mini spurt getting back-to-back baskets from Liles, who was just eating up offensive rebounds and a three-pointer from Kim Rogers to give the “Lady Terrapins” a 28-20 lead with 6:58 left in the half.

Just when it looked like Maryland was going to seize total control of the game Wake Forest made something happen. A pair of three-pointers by Brittany Waters put the “Lady Demon Decons” on top 35-34 with 2:56 remaining in the half.

Anjale Barrett would hit the court for Maryland and added some of that New York City flavor, the native New Yorker scored Maryland’s last seven points to put them ahead 41-40.

Wake Forest would get a basket at the buzzer by Thomas to take a 42-41 lead into the half.

The “Lady Demon Decons” were feeling good as the second half got underway, baskets by Thomas, Groves and Ray Secily would opened up a 56-45 lead.

You know they say a team is a reflection of their coach, well fiery would describe Maryland Head Coach Brenda Frese and trailing at this point she was fired up at her teams dismal play. That fire would catch on to her team as they started mounting a comeback.

Toliver, who was recently named the ACC “Player of the Year” and teammate Marissa Coleman first got the troops fired up on the defensive end of the floor as Maryland started putting more pressure on the Wake Forest shooters and they really started pounding the glass which allowed them to get out on the break.

Kizer continued to beast out inside scoring five straight points as the “Lady Terrapins” cut the lead to 63-59 with 7:58 to play. With the lead shrinking Wake Forest began to tighten up turning the ball over on back-to-back possessions.

With just under 3:00 minutes left Maryland went on a mini run, Toliver would drain a three-pointer, Coleman would score on a lay-up, Marah Strickland would hit a pair of free-throws and Barrett would top off the run with another lay-up that would give the “Lady Terrapins” a 70-65 lead.

Wake Forest would never recover as the ACC regular season champions and top seeded “Lady Terrapins” from Maryland came away with a gut-check win over Wake Forest.

The Final Score:

Maryland 72 – Wake Forest 70

Box Score