Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Chapel Hill, NC–
There are going to be quite a few things that Terps Head Coach Brenda Frese looks back at this game and says if only… If only they could have hit free throws in this game against UNC, it might have been a different ending to today’s 74-66 loss to UNC.
UNC used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to flip a 10-4 Maryland lead into a 13-10 Tar Heel advantage. The Terrapins played tough and jumped back in front 14-13 after four free throws, but Carolina reestablished the lead shortly after an extended it to as large as 11 points at 34-23 in the second quarter. UNC led 42-33 at halftime.
The 17 for 31 from the line will most likely haunt this team for a long time to come as going into the 4th quarter this was anyone’s game, and UNC made it theirs keying on 8 unanswered points late in the game and allowing for UNC to pull away and move on to the Sweet 16.
“In the NCAA, when you’re playing on someone else’s home court, it’s extremely difficult,” head coach Brenda Frese said. “We missed 14 free throws and shot under 40% for the game. A lot of uncharacteristic plays for us.”
Maryland had quite a bit of offensive struggles from players like Yarden Garzon, who after she was inadvertently hit in the face in the first half just could not find a way to get hot.
Garzon stepped in to shoot free throws stripe with 1:18 left in the game for a chance to cut the deficit to four points. She missed both — and UNC went the other way and scored a driving layup. This essentially was the end of the game for the Terps.
