No. 6 Maryland 74, Florida St 60
2/15/2007 8:56 PM
By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -Maryland coach Brenda Frese wanted 40 minutes from her team, but only got 20. On Thursday night, it was enough.
Crystal Langhorne scored 14 points and grabbed a dozen rebounds and the sixth-ranked Terrapins rallied from a one-point halftime deficit to defeat Florida State 74-60.
``We needed to play with a lot more fire and energy, especially with what was at stake,'' Frese said. ``Sometimes you just have to grind games out.''
With the win, the defending national champions took sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference and virtually locked up a first-round bye in the league tournament next month.
``Right now that's what we're playing for,'' said Frese. ``That extra day off.''
Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver also had 14 points to pace Maryland's balanced scoring attack. Shay Doron added 12 and Laura Harper had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Maryland shot 50 percent and had a 44-33 rebounding advantage.
``It was much more physical than even we anticipated,'' Florida State coach Sue Semrau said. ``I like it when we can match that level of play.''
Maryland (25-3, 9-3 ACC) took the lead for good at 38-35 on Toliver's 3-point basket 2:35 into the second half and built it to double digits with 10:02 left on a mid-range jumper by Toliver, who leads the country in 3-point shooting percentage.
Maryland's losses are all to ACC opponents - unbeaten, top-ranked Duke, once-beaten No. 2 North Carolina and Georgia Tech. The Terps have a rematch with Duke at home Sunday.
Florida State, which lost to No. 2 North Carolina 80-59 on Monday night, led 30-29 at the half. Maryland made just 2 of 8 tries from 3-point range and missed 6 of 7 free throws before the break.
The Seminoles (18-8, 7-4) had their last lead at 35-33 on a jump shot by Alicia Gladden, who led Florida State with 13 points. Britany Miller added 12 despite being in foul trouble all night.
``To finish in the top four would still be a huge accomplishment,'' said Semrau, who has just one senior (Gladden) on her team. ``We've (just) got to grow up.''
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