Late surge lifts Terps women, 67-54

Charles shoulders load in victory

The Maryland women’s basketball team has flaunted its depth throughout this young season, showing off a new lineup that includes everything from two dynamic young freshmen to a buzzy transfer to a new-and-improved Blair Watson, all of whom arrived in College Park this year with a mission, at least in part, to help lighten the burden on Kaila Charles.

But make no mistakes, Charles is still happy to shoulder the load when necessary.

The junior is still Maryland’s leading scorer – even if less than a point separated her season scoring average and that of her classmate Stephanie Jones’ entering Thursday’s game – and as she proved in the Terps’ 67-54 win over Georgia Tech, she is still the player Maryland can depend on when it enters dire straits.

Maryland had given up a 20-point halftime lead in an abysmal third quarter Thursday night before Charles took over in the fourth.

Georgia Tech scored one basket to open the period and narrowed the gap to one before the Terps’ junior leader unloaded for 11 consecutive points, killing the Yellow Jackets’ comeback with a pair of mid-range daggers, one muscular layup and five free throws.

“She was in a zone, obviously,” Coach Brenda Frese said after, with a smile. Frese said Charles’ fourth-quarter barrage was partly by design and partly the junior leader taking charge on her own.

“The play call, we continued to run it until they could stop it, and they couldn’t stop it. Weweren’t going to go away from it,” Frese said. “…Whenshe’s got that mid-range gamegoing, I just thought this was one of Kaila’s best games. I mean, when you talk about how it started on the defensive end for her, how she led, her communication, her energy and then obviously you saw just the impact she has all over the game.”

Charles ended with a game-high 23 points off of efficient 7-for-14 shooting from the floor and a perfect mark at the free-throw line.

Women

Men

JAMESMADISON81, COPPINSTATE71, OT: Darius Banks made two 3-pointers to secure the host Dukes (6-3) win over the Eagles (0-8).

Banks scored 10 of his 18 points in the extra period as he madefour free throws to go with two 3-pointers. Hemadehis first 3-pointer to take a 68-66 lead with 3:20 left in OT. Deshon Parker stole the ball and Banks hit his second 3-pointer to lead 71-66 with 2:40 left.

Matt Lewis added six points in overtime. Lewis, who totaled16 points, sent the game into the extra period when he drove to the basket, and got the ball to hit the front of the rim and roll in with :04 remaining in regulation. Eight seconds earlier Lewis completed a 3-point play to close to 62-61. Cedric Council split a pair of free throws for Coppin State's final points in regulation for a 63-61 lead.