No. 10 Maryland tops Rutgers 72-54

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Brenda Frese and her Maryland Terrapins just keep finding ways to win.

Eleanna Christinaki scored 18 points and No. 10 Maryland used a big run at the end of the first half to beat Rutgers 72-54 on Sunday.

"We lost an awful lot (to graduation and transfers) and it speaks volumes of the character and chemistry we have in the locker room," Frese said. "Everyone doubted them and counted them out this season. They just know they need each other and it's a true definition of a team."

The Terrapins (22-3, 11-1 Big Ten) led 30-26 with 3:43 left in the half before they scored 13 of the final 14 points in the second quarter. Kristen Confroy had five of her 11 points during the burst and five players scored during the game-changing run.

"The defense picked up and we got a lot more aggressive," Frese said.

Maryland led 43-27 at the half and Rutgers tried to cut into the deficit in the second half, but couldn't get within single digits.

Rutgers trailed 64-54 with just under 2:30 left when Kaila Charles converted a layup. Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer thought that Charles had traveled before the layup and let the official know. The Hall of Fame coach was given a technical foul and the Scarlet Knights didn't challenge after that.

Victoria Harris had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Rutgers (18-9, 6-7). This game finished off a rough stretch for the Scarlet Knights, who played four straight games against ranked teams, including the Terrapins twice. Rutgers went 1/3 in those games.

"We just need to focus more and go hard in practice," said Stasha Carey, who had nine points and 10 rebounds.

THINK PINK:

Both teams wore pink warmup shirts and the cheerleaders had pink pom-poms as part of Play4Kay week. Women's basketball teams around the country honor Kay Yow, the former N.C. State coach, who died of cancer in 2009. Rutgers honored cancer doctors and breast cancer survivors at the half.

TIP-INS:

Maryland: Confroy made the 200th 3-pointer of her career in the first half. She is second all-time on the school's list for 3-pointers, trailing only Kristi Toliver, who made 300.

Rutgers: Stringer is five victories short of becoming the fifth Division I coach to reach 1,000 wins. Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma and Sylvia Hatchell all have achieved that milestone. Auriemma and Hatchell did it this season as well as Barbara Stevens, who coaches at Division II Bentley College. ... Rutgers was 1-for-12 from behind the 3-point line.

MISCUES:

Rutgers turned the ball over 22 times much to the dismay of coach Stringer.

"The turnovers were atrocious. Can't have 22 turnovers and expect to win any basketball game," Stringer said. "So many of those were stupid, for lack of a better word. Trying to throw through people."

UP NEXT:

Maryland: hosts Purdue on Thursday

Rutgers: visits Wisconsin on Wednesday