Feb. 14, 2013

NC State Takes Down No. 19 Florida State, 76-69

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Kody Burke tied her career-high with 26 points and Len'Nique Brown neared a triple-double to lead NC State to a 76-69 victory at No. 19/20 Florida State Thursday night from the Tucker Center.

Brown had a magnificent game with 13 points, nine assists and seven assists, while Markeisha Gatling had 14 points and Marissa Kastanek added 11 points.

It was like NC State (13-12, 5-8 ACC) was shot out of a cannon leaving the locker room for the second half. An 11-3 run gave the Wolfpack a 47-38 lead with just under 16 minutes to play. Burke scored her 1,000th career point in the run, and later made a three-pointer to extend the lead. She was a dominating 11-of-17 from the field.

No. 7 Maryland Routs Clemson, 75-45

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Tianna Hawkins posted her 12th double-double of the season with 30 points and 12 rebounds and No. 7 Maryland continued its dominance of Clemson with a 75-45 victory Thursday night.

Alyssa Thomas added 17 points for the Terrapins, who bounced back from a 71-56 loss to No. 5 Duke on Monday night. Maryland has won 13 consecutive games against the Tigers. The Terrapins (20-5 overall, 11-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have not lost to Clemson since a 63-61 setback on March 7, 2003, in the ACC Tournament.

Nikki Dixon had 13 points for the Tigers (6-18, 2-11), who have lost four consecutive games after beating Virginia Tech, 47-37, on Jan. 31.

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Elizabeth Williams and Haley Peters each matched their career high with 25 points apiece as No. 5 Duke took a big early lead against overmatched Virginia Tech and cruised to its seventh straight victory, 77-33.

The Blue Devils (23-1, 13-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) forced 18 first-half turnovers and led 40-14 at the intermission on their way to their 29th consecutive road victory against an unranked opponent.

The loss Thursday night was the 11th in 12 games for Virginia Tech (8-16, 2-11) and its second lopsided setback against the Blue Devils this season. Duke won 58-26 just over a month ago in Durham, N.C.

No. 14 Heels Handle Wake Forest, 76-56

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 14 North Carolina opened on a 6-0 run and never trailed as the Tar Heels beat Wake Forest for the 10th straight time, 76-56, Thursday night at Carmichael Arena. Xylina McDaniel had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Carolina, while Tierra Ruffin-Pratt added 13 in just nine minutes.

Carolina (23-3, 11-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) used its swarming defense to stifle the Demon Deacons early, keeping the visitors from attempting a field goal for nearly three minutes to open the game. Wake had pulled within six at 22-16 before the Tar Heels went on a 17-4 run that effectively put the game away before halftime.

McDaniel fueled another long run after the break, as the freshman standout scored nine points in a 5-minute stretch that made it 62-31 with 10 minutes to play.

Boston College Defeats Virginia, 61-49

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Senior Kerri Shields set season highs with 21 points and seven 3-pointers made to lead Boston College past Virginia, 61-49, in Conte Forum on Thursday night.

Shields connected on 7-of-12 from beyond the arc for the Eagles (10-14, 4-9 ACC) falling one 3-pointer shy of tying her career high while the Cavaliers (15-9, 7-6 ACC) shot just 1-of-15 from 3-point distance.

Junior Kristen Doherty recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds while classmate Tessah Holt contributed 13 points and five assists with no turnovers. Fellow junior Katie Zenevitch scored 12 points - eight of which came at the beginning of a decisive 21-5 BC run late in the second half.