Jan. 18, 2008

No. 4 Maryland Holds Off Virginia, 74-62

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Marah Strickland and Kristi Toliver hit consecutive 3-pointers in the second half to help No. 4 Maryland beat pesky Virginia 74-62 Friday night for its 11th straight win.

The teams were tied at 56 before Strickland and Toliver connected from long distance to give the Terrapins (21-1, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) a little breathing room with 5:06 left.

Maryland, playing without coach Brenda Frese because she is pregnant with twins and not allowed to travel, got all it could handle but held on because Virginia couldn't handle the Terrapins inside. The Cavaliers (13-5, 2-1) had won seven straight.

Crystal Langhorne, who needed just five points to become Maryland's career scoring leader, had 20 points and 16 rebounds, and Marissa Coleman scored 13 points.

Maryland outrebounded Virginia 43-28, and finished with 36 second-chance points.

Monica Wright led Virginia with 22 points, but went to the bench after her fourth foul with more than 9 minutes to play. Maryland took control shortly thereafter.

Strickland, who finished with 19 points, hit a 3-pointer with 5:50 left to make it 59-56. Toliver, a native of Harrisonburg, Va., then made her clutch 3.

Toliver finished with 16 points and five assists.

Virginia was outscored 12-6 the rest of the way in its fifth straight loss to Maryland. The Cavaliers got 13 points from Lyndra Littles and 12 from Sharnee Zoll.

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