Though the Terps' game at Georgia Tech tonight wasn't televised or webcast, there was a live radio feed, so the BCs got to listen. And thanks to the fast-talking GT announcer (from WREK.com), we got the gist. Our general impression: it wasn't the prettiest of games.
Despite some early foul trouble and 11 turnovers in the first half, Maryland was able to take a 7-point lead into the locker room at the break, 27-20. But the Terps were undone by their TOs in the second half (15!), and with 17:10 left, the Yellow Jackets took their first lead of the game. But one thing we know: the Terps never quit. (Remember Purdue? Remember UVA?) Maryland clawed its way back from a 5-point deficit, and with 2:12 left in the game, Maryland led by a single point, 53-52.
And then the lights went out in Georgia. Literally.
No lights, no scoreboard, no nothing. A power surge in the arena had momentarily knocked out all the electronics. It took about 15 minutes for the lights to warm up after that, with a total game delay in excess of 20 minutes. So much for Maryland's momentum!
The stoppage in play was so long that the teams had to go through their warmups all over again. After play resumed, the Terps went cold for 2:10 seconds . . . unable to score, even from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech managed to tie the score at 53. So with 1.6 seconds left and Maryland inbounding the ball, it looked like this already-too-long game was headed for overtime.
But no! With 1.2 seconds left on the clock, Kim Rodgers launched a three . . . and it was good! The WREK.com radio announcer was such a, uhmm, wreck, he couldn't even tell us for several minutes who had hit the shot. But we later learned it was Kimmie . . . her only 3-pointer of the night. Before that, she was 0-3 from beyond the arc. Kim's timing could not have been better! Maryland wins, 56-53! What a heart-stopper of an ending!
Only two Terps were in double figures tonight . . . the usual suspects. Lynetta Kizer led all scorers with 19 points, while super frosh Alyssa Thomas was close behind, with 17. (BTW, Alyssa picked up her 5th ACC Rookie-of-the-Week award on Monday. Congrats Alyssa!)
With tonight's win, the Terps improve to 5-2 in the ACC. And since Miami lost to Duke this evening and Maryland handed Georgia Tech another loss, the Terps (for the moment at least) have now climbed to 5th place in the conference standings. Though the Devils sit alone at the top, there are 5 more teams bunched up and vying to be one of the top four teams, as each earns a bye in the first round of next month's ACC Tournament. So every game down the stretch is critical.
Next up for Maryland is a noon match on Sunday at Comcast against NC State. It's an early tip-off, so we can catch all the action and still make it to our Super Bowl parties in plenty of time!
Go Terps . . . Beat the Wolfpack!
Photo Credit: ACC via Twitter
posted by BasketCases @ 10:51 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Yeah Kim Rodgers! I noticed neither Mincey or Cloud played tonight? Wonder why.....they have been getting good minutes in other games. Nice to see the Terps pull out the win--on an off night.
Mincy played 5 minutes. Cloud did not play. This was a very tuff/physical game.
Announcer couldn't see who took the shot because he was blocked. Neither could stat crew sitting beside him. They had to get word from down the other end of the table to accurately know that Rodgers hit it.
I was following the game on ESPN's website. They reported that TECH won 56-53! What a pleasant surprise in the sports section this morning!
Crazy. Is the game taped anywhere? Would love to see that last play. Hopefully Under the Shell was their taping.
I was also following the game on the ESPN website but was simultaneously listening on the web to the radio announcers. It was clear from the broadcast that Md won BUT as the BC's reported, the announcers were unable to say who made the final 3 pointer for a few minutes. The ESPN site listed it as Alex Montgomery and a 56-53 GT win; crazy. I don't know what happened, but it was a good, few minutes before they straightened it out. Meanwhile, Gametracker was still stuck back at some 3:58 minutes to play when the game had already ended. I guess I was trying to follow this game too many ways ... wish it would have just been televised! [or that I was independently wealthy and had no other commitments so I could have been there in person!] In any case, very happy for the win and the guts the Maryland ladies showed as they hung on and pulled this one out.
Go to the MD WBB site and the replay of the shot is on the video replay.
Post a Comment
<< Home