SUPER BOWL 2012

Maybe It Was Being Named ACC Player-of-the Week on Monday. Or perhaps it was being selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Ass'n on Tuesday as National Player-of-the-Week. In any event, Tianna Hawkins began tonight's game in Charlottesville on a mission.

T-Hawk scored 15 points and pulled down 10 boards in the first half . . . to lead her team to a 44-21 halftime lead, on the way to a 73-56 road win for Maryland over UVA. Oh Yeah!

The Cavs may have outscored the Terps in the second half, but this one really was over at the break: the Terps shot 55.3% from the floor in the first period and had a 23-point lead (prompting the Virginia radio announcers to call Maryland's game "an efficient buzzsaw"), they also out-rebounded the 'Hoos, 27-6, and T-Hawk had a double-double . . . all by intermission. Over. In the second half, while the Cavs played hard and at one point narrowed the gap to 11, the Terps were never really threatened.

Maryland's Secret Agent, Tianna, finished with 26 points (a new career high!) on 12 of 13 shooting, and pulled down 14 boards. Super Soph Alyssa Thomas also posted a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) . . . although it took her until the second half to hit the double-digit marks.

The players and the coaches aren't the only red people heading back to College Park tonight. The Rebounders sent a full bus load of fans to John Paul Jones Arena, and we know that some other fans traveled to Charlottesville on their own. For all these travelers, their loyal fan-dom was rewarded with a big win. No doubt they'll be smiling all the way home.

Tonight's game was the second meeting between Maryland and Virginia this season. In the first, at Comcast, the Terps won by only 7 points (68-61). What the BCs particularly loved about tonight's game was the fact that the Terps dominated from the opening minutes. That, to us, says a lot about this Maryland team. And, with Duke arriving at Comcast on Sunday, we hope that the second meeting between these two teams ends as happily for the Terps (and their fans) as tonight's did.

The Blue Devils are undefeated (to date) in the ACC. Sunday will be a tough game. So, regardless of the weather (what's a little "wintery mix" anyway?), come out to Comcast. Wear Red. Cheer -- loud and often -- for the Terps!

Go Maryland . . . Beat Duke

Tonight's game was also special because it was Coach Frese's 300th win! Congratulations, Coach B! (And tomorrow is a special day as well . . . Markus and Tyler turn 4. Happy Birthday to the Little Guys!)