For the Maryland women's basketball team, playing at Comcast Center used to mean victory was all but ensured. It had won every game there for almost three years and started this season with 12 consecutive victories at home.
Now, after a 58-57 loss to sixth-ranked Duke on Sunday night, Maryland might be seeking comfort on the road.
Despite erasing an 11-point deficit late in the second half, the Terrapins (14-6, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) dropped their second in a row at Comcast and third straight overall. Maryland had won 48 consecutive games at home, a school record, before losing to Miami, 80-77, on Thursday.
Before playing the Hurricanes, Maryland had not lost at home since Feb. 18, 2007, when Duke recorded a 69-57 victory.
Sunday's outcome was in doubt until Jasmine Thomas (game-high 20 points) made the first of two free throws to give Duke a 58-54 lead with five seconds to play. Maryland's final points came on Anjalé Barrett's 3-pointer as time expired.
"Obviously, there's no moral victories," Terrapins coach Brenda Frese said, "but I am proud of this team. Like I just told them in the locker room, that's the No. 6 team in the country, and the fact that this team battled and competed for 40 minutes, I'm really, really proud of them. It's a great statement game for us in the fact that our team knows they can play with anyone."
Senior guard Lori Bjork scored 11 points, including three of four 3-point attempts, to lead the Terrapins. No other Maryland player scored in double figures.
Foul shooting again contributed to the Terrapins' demise. Maryland, which is making just 62 percent of its free throws, missed eight of 13 in the first half and shot 53 percent (nine of 17) for the game. The Terrapins also had 19 turnovers to 11 for Duke (17-3, 5-0).
In the second half, Thomas, the fifth leading scorer in the ACC entering Sunday at 15.6 points per game, took over. The junior guard scored 13 consecutive points to give the Blue Devils a 45-38 lead with 10:36 to play.
Duke's Joy Cheek extended the lead to nine with a jumper, and Maryland called timeout with 9:06 remaining. When play resumed, Karima Christmas gave Duke a 51-40 advantage with a driving layup.
But just when it appeared Maryland would go quietly, Bjork gave the Terrapins hope with consecutive 3-pointers that started a 10-0 run. Bjork then gave Maryland a real shot at winning by hitting a jumper with 3:31 left for a 54-53 lead.
Duke, however, regained the lead for good, 55-54, when Mitchell got a tough leaner in the lane to fall with 1:29 to play.
DUKE-Mitchell 3-9 0-0 6, Cheek 3-17 3-4 9, K.Thomas 1-5 1-3 3, J.Thomas 8-19 1-2 20, Jackson 1-2 0-0 3, Hopkins 1-1 0-0 3, Selby 0-2 0-0 0, Christmas 4-8 0-0 8, Scheer 0-1 0-0 0, Vernerey 1-3 4-6 6. Totals 22-67 9-15 58.MARYLAND-Tchatchouang 2-9 4-7 9, Kizer 4-11 0-0 8, Taylor 2-4 0-0 4, Rodgers 2-7 1-1 6, Bjork 4-6 0-0 11, Nared 0-0 1-3 1, Barrett 3-8 2-4 9, Oyefuwa 0-0 0-0 0, Hawkins 4-7 1-2 9. Totals 21-52 9-17 57.Halftime-Duke 27-25. 3-point goals-Duke 5-15 (J.Thomas 3-8, Jackson 1-1, Hopkins 1-1, Scheer 0-1, Selby 0-1, Mitchell 0-1, Cheek 0-1, Christmas 0-1), Maryland 6-15 (Bjork 3-4, Barrett 1-2, Tchatchouang 1-3, Rodgers 1-5, Taylor 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Duke 42 (Cheek 11), Maryland 42 (Rodgers 9). Assists-Duke 8 (Christmas, Jackson, K.Thomas, J.Thomas 2), Maryland 11 (Taylor 6). Total fouls-Duke 19, Maryland 17. A-10,301.
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