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Virginia Women's Basketball Sweeps Maryland, 76-59
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Feb. 17, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va – The University of Virginia women’s basketball team capped off a weekend-long tribute to head coach Debbie Ryan with a 76-59 win over Maryland on Sunday afternoon.
The Cavaliers improved to 15-10 overall and 8-6 in ACC play to stand third in the conference. The Terrapins fell to 12-14 and 4-10 in the league.
Ryan, who is celebrating her 25th season as Virginia’s head coach, was honored by Charlottesville Mayor Blake Caravati during pregame as he proclaimed Sunday as “Debbie Ryan Day”. Many of Ryan’s former players were in attendance for the festivities.
“We wanted to end the weekend with a bang,” said senior Telisha Quarles (Louisa, Va.).
“This was a weekend that I worried about the team,” said Ryan. “I was proud they could bet rid of all the distractions and focus on winning the game.”
In the first half UVa scored the first bucket and built its lead to as many as 14 points, 29-15 with 3:56 to go. The Cavs led by nine at intermission, 33-24.
In the second stanza, Virginia pushed its lead to 13 early, 40-27 with 16:42 on the clock. However, Maryland came storming back to close the gap to three, 45-42 with 10:53 to go. The Cavaliers then put their offense into gear to pull out a 17-point victory.
Quarles paced the squad with a team-high 20 points. Sophomore Anna Crosswhite (Castlecrag, Australia) added 16 points, including a career-best four treys. Sophomore Anna Prillaman (Midlothian, Va.) had 15 points.
“Telisha really picked up her game,” Ryan said of Quarles, who was named Fox Sports Net South’s Player of the Game. “I’m proud of the way they handled the end of the game, especially with Telisha’s leadership.”
Deedee Warley paced Maryland with 21 points, while teammate March? Strickland had 18 points.
“We didn’t handle our brief stint of success in that game very well,” commented Maryland head coach Chris Weller.
Virginia out-rebounded Maryland, 33-27.
“We’re in the run for an NCAA bid,” said freshman Brandi Teamer (Joliet, Ill.), “and what a way to end Debbie’s weekend than with a ‘W’.”
“Debbie’s very dedicated to the game,” Weller added. “She lives it. She’s the total package. I’m sure she doesn’t feel that it’s her occupation. Basketball is her life.”
Virginia closes out its home slate on Thursday, Feb. 21 with a 7:30 p.m. contest with No. 20/22 North Carolina. The Senior Class will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1 2 - FinalMaryland (12-14, 4-10) 24 35 - 59Virginia (15-10, 8-6) 33 43 - 76
Other ACC scores from today:
Clemson 65, Wake Forest 46
North Carolina 71, Georgia Tech 62