No. 4 Maryland 89, Clemson 63

2/23/2006 10:06 PM

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Crystal Langhorne had just reached the 1,000-point mark quicker than any player in Maryland history, and she was the last one to find out.

After Langhorne reached the milestone in the first half of fourth-ranked Maryland's 89-63 victory over Clemson on Thursday night, the public address announcer trumpeted the feat and teammate Jade Perry shouted, ``Congratulations!''

``What are you talking about?'' Langhorne replied.

Langhorne finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Maryland (25-3, 12-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) never trailed in handing Clemson its ninth straight defeat.

Langhorne, a 6-foot-2 sophomore center, has scored 1,010 points in 60 career games. She became the 22nd woman to reach the 1,000-point plateau at Maryland, and she did it four games sooner than the previous record-holder, junior guard Shay Doron.

Coming into the game, Langhorne had no idea how close she was to 1,000. Coach Brenda Frese made certain to keep it that way.

``I never want to tell a player when they're getting close to anything because I think sometimes you press too much and start thinking about it,'' Frese said. ``I wanted it to be a nice surprise. Surprises are good. And it worked out that way.''

Langhorne was presented a souvenir basketball to mark the occasion, but she appeared more delighted with the victory.

``That really doesn't matter,'' she said of her accomplishment. ``We're winning games right now, we're fourth in the nation, and we're doing really well. That's what I care about.''

The victory was the school-record 14th at home this season for the Terrapins, who completed the league schedule assured of a second-place tie - their best finish in the ACC since 1993.

Marissa Coleman scored 19 of her 20 points in the first half, when Maryland built a 20-point lead.

Amanda Frist scored 16 points and D'Lesha Lloyd added 12 for Clemson (8-19, 2-11). The last-place Tigers haven't won since Jan. 15 and are 0-6 on the road in the ACC.

``It's hard to play against a team this good if you're not going to put in the effort, and I don't think we put in the effort needed to win,'' first-year coach Cristy McKinney said. ``They're a great team and they shoot it awfully well, and even better when you give them great looks. We definitely gave them those great looks.''

Coleman made her first five 3-point tries, and Maryland forced 14 turnovers in taking a 44-29 halftime lead.

``We played like a very unaware basketball team,'' McKinney said. ``We knew Marissa was a threat with her shooting. Look at her stats. She shoots the 3 great. We just weren't aware, and to not be aware of a player that good is scary.''

Coleman scored a layup off the opening tip, starting a run of 11 straight points by Maryland. Clemson committed five turnovers and missed three shots before Frist finally got the Tigers on the board.

It was 17-12 before Langhorne made a three-point play. She then topped the 1,000-point mark with a layup with 12:56 left in the half.

``To be able to score 1,000 points says a lot about her, her work ethic and the tremendous teammates she has around her,'' Frese said. ``It couldn't happen to a better, more classy person.''

Minutes later, Doron scored on a drive, Langhorne made a layup and Coleman sank a 3-pointer for a 13-point lead. After Clemson closed to 29-22, Coleman connected three times from beyond the arc during a 13-0 run that put the Terps up 42-22.