RALEIGH, N.C. - -Road games have confounded the Maryland women's basketball team this season, and that trend continued in a 73-45 loss to North Carolina State on Thursday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
In the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both schools, Maryland dropped its third of four games away from Comcast Center, ended its four-game winning streak and lost for just the second time in 11 games. The Terrapins ended their five-game winning streak against the Wolfpack after entering with two straight victories here.
"I thought N.C. State was incredible tonight," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. "Just played a lot more aggressive, physical, just what you expect from your first ACC game. Obviously with our young kids in the locker room, we get a taste of what it's going to be like when you go on the road and how hard you've got to be able to compete."
Maryland, which has nine underclassmen on its roster, scored its fewest points since losing to Duke, 74-44, on March 6, 2005. That also was the last time the Terrapins failed to reach 50 points before Thursday night's drubbing.
The margin of victory was the largest for North Carolina State against a Frese-coached Maryland team and the third most lopsided result in the history of the series. Senior Lori Bjork and freshman Diandra Tchatchouang were the only two Maryland players to reach double-figure scoring, with 10 points each.
Marissa Kastanek led the Wolfpack with a game-high 19 points, and Nikitta Gartrell added 16, including three of four 3-pointers.
"We got outworked. We got outhustled," Frese said.
That was most evident in the rebound margin. Maryland entered close to plus-13 per game in rebounds, first in the ACC. Against North Carolina State, the Terrapins were out-rebounded, 41-37, for the second time this season.
The Terrapins (12-3) were unable to recover from a first half during which they had 12 turnovers, shot 32 percent and went 0-for-5 from the 3-point line en route to a 20-point deficit. The Wolfpack, meantime, outdid Maryland in fast-break points by 15-0 and scored 18 points off turnovers. The Terrapins managed four points off five first-half turnovers by the Wolfpack (11-5).
MARYLAND @VIRGINIA
Monday, 7:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2