Thomas scores 19, Mitchell hits key basket to carry No. 6 Duke over Maryland 58-57

No. 6 Duke survives scare, beats Maryland 58-57

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Jasmine Thomas scored 20 points, Bridgette Mitchell made the go-ahead basket with 1:29 left, and No. 6 Duke squeezed past Maryland 58-57 Sunday night to remain the only unbeaten team in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Duke (17-3, 5-0) frittered away an 11-point lead and trailed 54-53 before Mitchell hit a runner in the lane as the shot clock expired.

After a missed shot by Maryland, Duke’s Joy Cheek made two three throws with 20 seconds remaining for a three-point cushion. Anjale Barrett then missed a 3-pointer for the Terrapins, and Thomas made one of two free throws before Barrett connected on a 3 at the buzzer.

Duke has won 10 of 11 since Dec. 15, the lone defeat in that span against top-ranked Connecticut.

Lori Bjork scored 11 points for Maryland (14-6, 2-4), which committed 19 turnovers. The Terrapins, who had their 48-game home winning streak broken by Miami on Thursday, have lost three straight overall — matching their longest skid since February 2004.

It’s also the first time since February 2006 that Maryland has lost two in a row at home.

Maryland trailed 30-25 early in the second half before Lynetta Kizer made a layup to ignite a 9-0 run that gave the Terrapins their first lead since 2-0.

Mitchell then scored on a putback, and Thomas scored the Blue Devils’ next 13 points to make it 45-38.

The lead expanded to 51-40 before Bjork hit consecutive 3-pointers to begin a 14-2 surge that put Maryland back in front.

After a series of missed shots and turnovers, Mitchell hit her pivotal shot.

Duke led 27-25 at halftime, mostly because Maryland shot 31 percent, went 5 for 13 at the free throw line and committed 10 turnovers.

Both teams had trouble shooting early, although the Blue Devils were a bit more protective of the ball in taking an 8-3 lead. Duke opened 3 for 13 from the field, but the Terrapins were even worse over the first nine minutes, going 1 for 9 from the floor with six turnovers.