CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In the days following a loss at top-ranked Connecticut, LaToya Pringle felt herself fighting through her quiet personality to become more demanding of her North Carolina teammates in practice.

But she figured she owed them a lot more than just words.

"If you're going to talk a game," she said, "you've got to back it up."

Pringle did that yesterday, scoring 12 of her career-high 31 points in the second overtime to help the third-ranked Tar Heels beat No. 4 Maryland, 97-86.

Erlana Larkins had 25 points and 18 rebounds for the Tar Heels (18-2, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who bounced back from Monday's loss to the Huskies with a thrilling home victory.

In a matchup befitting the rivalry of recent seasons, North Carolina turned in the kind of steady late-game performance it lacked in road losses to the Huskies — they led by four with about 5 1/2 minutes left — and to Tennessee earlier this year. It came in the middle of a tough four-game stretch, which ends with a trip to No. 10 Duke on Feb. 4, that could determine just how good these Tar Heels really are in their first year without graduated stars Ivory Latta and Camille Little.

Of course, if Pringle and Larkins keep playing like this, North Carolina should be just fine.

"They're my warriors," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said of the senior frontcourt mates. "I just don't want to let them graduate. They really are the leaders of our team, and that's the way it should be."

Pringle has spent the bulk of her career toiling in the background while Larkins, Latta and Little got the attention in the Tar Heels' run to consecutive Final Fours. Yet against the Terrapins (22-2, 6-1), she made the overtime-forcing three-point play and scored six straight points in the second OT as the Tar Heels finally pulled away.

She finished 11-for-16 from the field, pulled down nine rebounds and blocked three shots in 40 minutes. She did all that despite taking an elbow that cut open her lip midway through the second half, forcing her to change out of her bloodied No. 30 jersey and don the No. 55 with no name on the back.

"I don't think I'm comfortable with being vocal, but (after UConn) I kind of embraced it," she said. "I don't know what got into me. I've really been trying to motivate my team. If something's going wrong, I try to get it straight."

NO. 5 RUTGERS 63, VILLANOVA 54

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Epiphanny Prince scored 19 points as the Scarlet Knights (17-2, 7-0 Big East) held off the Wildcats (12-8, 2-5) for their 12th consecutive victory — including 10 in row at home and 25th straight against an unranked opponent.

NO. 6 BAYLOR 76, NEBRASKA 56

WACO, Texas — Angela Tisdale scored 15 of her 17 points before halftime when the Lady Bears (18-1, 6-0 Big 12) erased an early 16-6 deficit and used a 15-2 run to take the lead for good in their victory over the Cornhuskers (15-5, 4-2).

NO. 7 STANFORD 72, NO. 8 CALIFORNIA 52

STANFORD, Calif. — Candice Wiggins scored 28 points, JJ Hones hit four 3-pointers en route to 12 points, and the Cardinal (17-3, 7-2 Pac-10) raced to a 32-16 lead at intermission and never looked back in rolling past the Golden Bears (17-3, 8-1).

NO. 12 WEST VIRGINIA 67, GEORGETOWN 35

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — LaQuita Owens scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds and the Mountaineers (16-3, 5-1 Big East) opened up a 40-20 halftime lead and never looked back in routing the Hoyas (11-8, 1-5) in preparation for Tuesday night when they host No. 5 Rutgers.

NO. 18 WYOMING 68, COLORADO STATE 55

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Justyna Podziemska scored 16 points and Aubrey Vandiver added 14 to lead the Cowgirls (18-1, 6-0 Mountain West) past the Rams (2-16, 0-5) for their school-record 12th straight victory.

NO. 20 G.WASHINGTON 76, CHARLOTTE 54

WASHINGTON — Kimberly Beck had 19 points and 11 assists, Sarah-Jo Lawrence added 13 points and 10 rebounds and the Colonials (16-4, 4-1 Atlantic-10) routed the 49ers (13-8, 4-1) for coach Joe McKeown's 498th career victory.

NO. 21 TEXAS A&M 58, KANSAS 51

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Takia Sparks scored 17 points, Danielle Gant added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and the Aggies (14-6, 2-4 Big 12) used a 15-2 run for a 54-43 lead to turn back the Jayhawks (12-7, 1-5).

NO. 24 SYRACUSE 80, ST. JOHN'S 52

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Nicole Michael scored 20 points and freshman guard Erica Morrow scored 10 of her 14 points in the decisive first half when the Orange (16-3, 4-2 Big East), ranked for the first time since the program started 37 years ago, pulled away from the Red Storm (10-9, 1-5).