Chelsea Gray scored a career-high 28 points,
including seven in a row during a critical stretch
of the Blue Devils\' 71-56 victory over seventh-
ranked Maryland on Monday night.
Haley Peters, Tianna Hawkins Duke's Haley Peters (33) falls as Maryland's Tianna Hawkins (21) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Chelsea Gray Duke's Chelsea Gray (12) reacts following a basket against Maryland during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Elizabeth Williams, Alicia DeVaughn Duke's Elizabeth Williams (1) shoots as Maryland's Alicia DeVaughn defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Chelsea Gray, Tricia Liston Duke's Chelsea Gray (12) and Tricia Liston guard Maryland's Alyssa Thomas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
David Adkins, Brenda Frese Maryland head coach Brenda Frese, left, reacts to being ejected after two technical fouls during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. At rear is assistant coach David Adkins. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Tricia Liston, Katie Rutan Duke's Tricia Liston, right, pressures Maryland's Katie Rutan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Joanne P. McCallie Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie watches her team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Alexis Jones, Chloe Pavlech Duke's Alexis Jones, bottom, and Maryland's Chloe Pavlech dive for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
AP Photo/Gerry Broome
Chelsea Gray, Elizabeth Williams Duke's Chelsea Gray (12) reacts with Elizabeth
Williams, rear, following Gray's basket against
Maryland during the second half of an NCAA college
basketball game in Durham, N.C., Monday, Feb. 11,
2013. Duke won 71-56. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – When the lead got away from No. 5 Duke, Chelsea Gray snatched it right back and helped her team keep it.
Gray scored a career-high 28 points, including seven in a row during a critical stretch of the Blue Devils’ 71-56 victory over seventh-ranked Maryland on Monday night.
Tricia Liston had 17 points off the bench while Gray’s big run came after the Blue Devils (22-1, 12-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed for the only time.
I “just love to see her elevate her game,” coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “To be able to do the things that she did on the floor, given the attention she was drawing, was phenomenal.”
Alyssa Thomas had 14 points and 12 rebounds. But the Terrapins (19-4, 10-2) could overcome neither 24 turnovers nor a miserable night for the ACC’s leading scorer, Tianna Hawkins, and had their league-best nine-game winning streak snapped.
Freshman Chloe Pavelich’s 3 with about 10:45 left gave Maryland its only lead at 44-42.
Three possessions later, Gray took charge – and kept Duke alone atop the league standings.
She put Duke back on top with a 3, followed that with two free throws and capped her personal 7-0 run with a layup from Alexis Jones that made it 49-44 with 7
