Jan. 18, 1998

Marylands Shocks No. 7 North Carolina

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Maybe the third time will be the charm for North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell, who is now 0-for-2 in her bid to gain career victory No. 500.

Tiffany Brown set a school-record with seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 26 points as Maryland shocked No. 7 North Carolina 84-62 Sunday, denying Hatchell her 500th win as a college coach.

Hatchell's first try at the milestone occurred Thursday, when the Tar Heels lost to Virginia in triple overtime. She will try again this Thursday at home against North Carolina State.

"I just wish I could get it over with," Hatchell said. "Right now it's like a jinx. I'd rather do it against N.C. State than anybody else, but most of all I want to get my team playing well again."

Hatchell, now in her 22nd season as a college coach, owns a 499-202 record. She was 272-80 in 11 years at Francis Marion (S.C.) and is 227-122 with the Tar Heels since coming to Chapel Hill in 1986.

Nikki Teasley scored 25 points and Tracy Reid 17 for the Tar Heels (13-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who suffered their most lopsided loss since a 25-point blowout against Virginia on Jan. 8, 1992.

"The bottom line is that Maryland played a whole lot tougher than we did," Hatchell said. "That was the most physical game we've had in years, and we just couldn't take it. Maybe we have to go back and practice throwing ourselves against a wall."

Maryland (10-7, 3-4) scored the first game's first eight points and never

trailed in ending a three-game losing streak. "This was our best game of the season, no doubt," Maryland coach Chris Weller said. "Even though we lost three in a row, there wasn't anything wrong with our team. We've just had so many injuries and lineup changes that we couldn't figure ourselves out."

Brown's seven 3-pointers eclipsed by one the school mark she previously shared with Carla Holmes. She went 7-for-11 beyond the arc and was 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. "I've been working hard on my shot, and to get a career high is great," she said. "Hitting the first couple off the bat just gave me more confidence."

Kelley Gibson and Sonia Chase had 13 points each for the Terrapins, whose men's team upset top-ranked North Carolina at Cole Field House just four days earlier.

Maryland held the Tar Heels scoreless over the opening four minutes and got three 3-pointers from Brown in building a 12-2 lead. After falling behind 22-10 after 13 minutes, North Carolina finally started playing to form.

Teasley made two foul shots, Reid scored on a drive, Teasley hit a putback and Chanel Wright sank a 3-pointer in a 9-0 run that helped North Carolina make it 29-25 at the half.

The Tar Heels closed to 39-38 before Brown hit a 3-pointer and Chase made a layup. It was 51-44 before Brown made a 3-pointer to start an 8-0 run that turned the game into a rout.

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