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GREENSBORO -- Wake Forest almost derailed Maryland's train Friday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The Deacons jumped all over the highly-regarded Terps for 30 minutes before buckling and finally dropping a 72-70 decision in the second round of the ACC women's tournament.

While Maryland (26-4) moves on to today's semifinal against North Carolina at 1 p.m., the Deacons will contemplate what might have been. Their 19-11 record might not be quite good enough to make the NCAA tournament field, although it will certainly get them into the Women's NIT.

"I think I have a really good sense of where we are sitting," coach Mike Petersen said. "I don't like it very much. I think today's game was a play-in game for us and I think that's why we had that sense of urgency."

While Petersen said he doubted the Deacons would receive an at-large berth, he added, "I hope I'm wrong"

"We played out hearts out and we deserve a chance to get to the NCAA," said senior Alex Tchangoue, who totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.

For Maryland, the win meant advancing in a tournament they've never won. Seniors Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman have an NCAA championship ring and this season finished first in the ACC regular season.

"So this is the last thing on the agenda," Coleman said.

The Terps beat North Carolina 77-71 on Jan. 25 at home. But the Tar Heels, winners of the last four ACC titles, have won 13 straight games in the coliseum.

"Carolina tries to claim it as their tournament and their home court and rightfully so," Toliver said. "For Marissa and I, this is the last time we get to play in this tournament and we don't want to leave this place empty-handed."

They almost went home empty-handed again. Brimming with confidence, the Deacons never backed down to the Terps, ranked No. 4 in the country. Freshman point guard Brooke Thomas ran the offense efficiently and Tchangoue and fellow senior Corinne Groves shredded Maryland's man-to-man defense.

After Thomas' jumper put Wake up 63-51 with 9: 51 left, it looked as if the tournament's top seed might lose its first game for the first time ever.

But Toliver answered with a deep 3-pointer that seemed to loosen the logjam. The Terps switched to a zone defense and Wake Forest literally stopped scoring. The Deacons went more than nine minutes without a field goal, managing only a pair of free throws, until 47 seconds remained. Maryland chipped away and took the lead for good on Coleman's layup with 3:58 to go.

The Deacons had a possession to tie late in the game, down 70-67, but instead of attempting a 3-pointer Thomas missed on a drive. Toliver sealed the game with two free throws.

Wake got 15 points and 11 assists from Thomas and 16 points from Groves, who hit 16 of 21 shots in her two tournament games. Maryland countered by grabbing 18 offensive rebounds, good for 19 points.

Wake has posted its best record since its 1986-87 team went 23-9. And the season isn't over.

"I think whichever postseason event we go to &ellipses; we are going to be playing for a long time," Petersen said.

WAKE FOREST (19-11) -- Groves 8-10 0-0 16, Thomas 7-15 1-1 15, Tchangoue 6-11 2-2 16, Morris 0-4 0-0 0, Ray 3-12 2-2 9, Collier 2-4 0-0 6, Waters 3-7 0-0 8, Riddle 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-64 5-5 70.

MARYLAND (26-4) -- Liles 5-6 1-5 11, Coleman 5-13 2-3 12, Kizer 6-12 4-5 16, Strickland 0-7 2-2 2, Toliver 4-14 4-4 15, Barrett 4-9 0-1 9, Rodgers 2-2 1-2 7. Totals 26-63 14-22 72.

Halftime--Wake Forest 42-41. 3-Point Goals--Wake Forest 7-23 (Tchangoue 2-3, Collier 2-4, Waters 2-5, Ray 1-5, Thomas 0-2, Morris 0-4), Maryland 6-19 (Toliver 3-7, Rodgers 2-2, Barrett 1-5, Strickland 0-5). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Wake Forest 31 (Tchangoue 10), Maryland 43 (Kizer 11). Assists--Wake Forest 18 (Thomas 11), Maryland 17 (Toliver 6). Total Fouls--Wake Forest 20, Maryland 9. A--6,160.