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GREENSBORO -- For the first time since 2001, North Carolina will not play in the ACC women's tournament finals.

Top-seeded Maryland closed the game on a 12-3 run and advanced to today's title game with a 95-84 win over the four-time defending champions.

It was a game of runs and the Terrapins had the upper hand at the beginning and end of each half. An 8-0 run at the end of the first half, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers by reserve Kim Rodgers, gave the Terrapins a 44-38 lead at halftime.

"Yes, Kim was a big-time spark for us, a huge X-factor and someone who has worked extremely hard this season and been extremely patient," Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. "Just the confidence she came in to shoot the basketball, and I thought really made a big difference in the game." Maryland (27-4) then opened the second half with a 6-0 run to extend a 12-point lead.

But North Carolina battled back behind strong shooting from beyond the arc. In a two-minute stretch midway through the second half, Jessica Breland hit two 3-point baskets and Italee Lucas hit one from the right wing to give the Tar Heels a 62-61 lead.

Then Player of the Year Kristi Toliver stepped up to give the Terrapins a reliable scorer to go along with Marissa Coleman.

Through the first 30 minutes, Toliver hit 3-of-11 shots as the Tar Heels positioned taller Rashanda McCants on her. But in the final 10 minutes the senior scored 12 of her 25 points.

Toliver compensated for her poor performance from the floor with a tremendous effort at the foul line. The second-leading free throw percentage shooter in ACC history with an .859 mark, Toliver hit all 13 of her shots from the line.

Her 13 attempts matched the team total for North Carolina, a fact not lost on Tar Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell, who watched her team shoot more jump shots than normal.

"Well, we were doing that because we couldn't get on the foul line," Tar Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "We scored 34 points in the paint; they scored 28.

"But you know, Breland has got a great touch. She has got a tremendous touch in there. And McCants, too, so the second half, that's what we were having to do and all. But, you know, we are a pretty good jump shooting team. But we usually get to the foul line a lot more than we did. I don't know. It's whatever you think."

While Toliver carried the load late, Coleman, a fellow All-ACC first-team member, sparkled throughout. She scored a game-high 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting from both the floor and the line.

Lucas spent most of the game chasing and guarding Coleman, giving everything she had to defend a player five inches taller. Lucas also was Carolina's leading scorer with 26 points, including five 3-point buckets.

Breland added 23 points for the Tar Heels and McCants chipped in with 18 before fouling out.

Maryland advances to the championship game today and will play Duke at 1 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA (26-6) -- McFarland 1-1 0-0 2, McCants 8-17 0-0 18, Breland 9-17 2-4 23, DeGraffenreid 4-13 0-0 8, Lucas 9-19 3-7 26, White 0-2 0-0 0, Bursey 0-0 0-0 0, Claytor 0-0 0-0 0, Dewitt 2-2 0-0 4, Shegog 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 34-73 6-13 84.

MARYLAND (27-4) -- Liles 3-5 3-4 9, Coleman 9-13 9-13 29, Kizer 7-11 1-2 15, Strickland 1-5 0-0 3, Toliver 6-17 13-13 25, Barrett 1-3 1-2 3, Oyefuwa 0-1 0-0 0, Rodgers 3-8 2-2 11, Mingo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-63 29-36 95.

Halftime--Maryland 44-38. 3-Point Goals--North Carolina 10-21 (Lucas 5-8, Breland 3-5, McCants 2-5, White 0-1, DeGraffenreid 0-2), Maryland 6-20 (Rodgers 3-7, Coleman 2-4, Strickland 1-3, Barrett 0-1, Toliver 0-5). Fouled Out--McCants. Rebounds--North Carolina 34 (Breland, Shegog 7), Maryland 41 (Kizer 9). Assists--North Carolina 13 (Breland 4), Maryland 13 (Toliver 5). Total Fouls--North Carolina 26, Maryland 21. A--NA.