University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
UNC Women's Basktball Beats Maryland, 87-69
December 9, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2000
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-The University of North Carolina women's basketball team opened Saturday's game against Maryland with a 10-0 run and went on to earn an 87-69 Atlantic Coast Conference win, despite playing the second half without its two Naismith Player of the Year candidates. With the homecourt victory, UNC improved to 4-3 on the season (1-0 in the ACC), while Maryland fell to 6-2 (0-1 ACC).
On an afternoon when senior junior Juana Brown did not dress because of a sprained knee and senior forward LaQuanda Barksdale missed the second half because of an allergic reaction, the Tar Heels were led by sophomore guard Coretta Brown, who scored a career-high 27 points. Senior guard Leah Sharp added 21, also a career high.
"I felt everyone had to step up with Juana and LaQuanda out," Coretta Brown said. "We all just had to step up and play hard."
Juana Brown sprained her right knee in Carolina's Dec. 3 loss to Notre Dame and was not cleared to play against Maryland. Barksdale scored 13 points-including the first 10 of the game-and grabbed seven rebounds in 15 minutes of play before she began to feel the effects of an allergic reaction. She suffered swelling in her face and neck and did not return in the second half. (The cause of her reaction is unknown. However, she responded well to on-site treatment by team medical staff and is not expected to miss further action.)
That left the Tar Heels without their top scorer and rebounder (Barksdale) and their third-leading scorer and top defender (Juana Brown). "I'm really proud of our team and the way we won the game without Juana and LaQuanda," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "I thought the team played with a lot of heart."
The Tar Heels shot 56.0 percent from the field in the first half to take a 37-24 lead into halftime. Maryland coach Chris Weller said UNC's early run hurt her team, which came to Carmichael Auditorium with just one loss on the season. "Our team came in with confidence and when it happened like that so fast, it put us back on our heels," Weller said. "Plus we picked up a couple of fouls, and that set the tone for the rest of the game."
Maryland was led by junior guard Marche Strickland, who had a season-high 24 points. Junior center Jamecca Harrell scored 12 and led the Terrapins with 10 rebounds. Maryland shot 34.7 from the field for the day, compared with 44.6 by UNC.
Carolina, which came into the game shooting 56.1 from the foul line, was 32-for-40 for 80.0 percent.
In addition to a career-high in scoring, Sharp played a career-high 36 minutes. For the game, she was 15-for-16 from the foul line, one short of tying the UNC record for free throws made in a game. Sophomore guard Cherie Lea, starting in place of Juana Brown, scored a season-high 11 points and played a career-high 37 minutes. Coretta Brown played all 40 minutes for the third time this season.
Maryland is back in action on Tuesday evening, hosting Coppin State for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. North Carolina is off until next Saturday, Dec. 16, when the Tar Heels will host Winthrop for a 7 p.m. game at Carmichael Auditorium.
