Jan. 15, 1998

Lady Terps Lose at Home to N.C. State

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - It didn't matter that Chasity Melvin scored only 15 points and missed half her shots. On this night, her value to North Carolina State was more as a decoy than an offensive force.

Reserve center Summer Erb scored 21 of her career-high 25 points in the second half, and No. 10 North Carolina State held off Maryland for a 64-56 victory Thursday night.

Melvin came in averaging a team-high 16 points, so Maryland coach Chris Weller ordered a double-team every time the talented senior forward got the ball. Unfortunately for the Terrapins, there weren't enough players to double-team Erb, too.

Erb, 6-foot-6 sophomore, eclipsed her previous scoring high of 22 points and had a career-best 10 rebounds. She came into the game averaging 7.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.

"Chasity was drawing two people and that left Summer in a 1-on-1 situation on the other side," Wolfpack coach Kay Yow said. "Summer has a great shooting touch, and she positioned herself well. Tonight she was in a zone."

As a result, the Wolfpack remained the only unbeaten team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. N.C. State (15-1, 6-0) has won five straight overall and eight of 11 against the Terrapins.

Tiffany Brown tied a school record with six 3-pointers and scored 21 points for Maryland (9-7, 2-4).

"We played well, but Erb just got it going in the middle of the second half," Weller said. "We doubled the ball, but we didn't double her enough."

The Terrapins led 45-44 before baskets by LySchale Jones and Tynesha Lewis put the Wolfpack ahead to stay. It was 53-51 before Erb made two straight follow shots to make it 57-51 with 2:33 left.

"The ball just seemed to be dropping in my hands and I was finding the rim with my shot," Erb said.

After 3-pointer by Brown put Maryland up 29-27, Erb had a basket and a three-point play in a 7-0 spurt that gave the Wolfpack a five-point lead. Stephanie Cross then scored for the Terrapins before Erb scored on a putback for a 36-31 lead.

Minutes later, Brown made two 3-pointers and Kalisa Davis scored in the lane to put Maryland ahead 43-42. Erb then put the Wolfpack back in front with a jumper off the glass.

A jumper by Kelley Gibson gave Maryland its final lead.

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