GoHeels Exclusive: Kea Living Up To The Hype, Olympic Sport Notes

by Pat James

CHAPEL HILL—As the women's basketball team has navigated a 2-2 start, Paris Kea has lived up to the hype that landed her a spot on the preseason All-ACC team.

In last week's games, a 79-46 victory over Radford on Thursday and an 85-84 loss against South Alabama on Sunday, Kea scored 49 total points, highlighted by her 31-point performance against the Jaguars. She shot 19-for-30 (63.3 percent) from the field.

Averaging 25.3 points through four games, Kea leads the ACC in scoring. She also ranks fourth in the conference with a 58.8 shooting percentage. But she's excelled in other areas, as well.

Kea finished with 11 assists against South Alabama, pushing her season average to 7.3. That's the second-best mark in the ACC. On defense, she's averaging 3.5 steals, tied for the second most in the league.

The Tar Heels will look for Kea to continue her hot start Wednesday, when they face UNCW at 2 p.m. at Carmichael Arena before hosting Minnesota in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 29.

Field hockey's season ends in Final Four

With just one senior, Gab Major, on the roster, a ninth straight Final Four appearance wasn't a guarantee for the field hockey team this season.

But on Friday, there UNC was, locked in a scoreless battle with undefeated Connecticut in an NCAA Tournament semifinal game at the University of Louisville's Trager Stadium. The Huskies scored early in the second half. And after a flurry of late penalty corners, the Tar Heels sent the game into overtime on a goal by Eva van't Hoog with 1:51 left in regulation.

Neither team scored during the two 15-minute overtime periods. Thus, the game went into a penalty shootout, which Connecticut, the eventual national champion, won 3-0.

UNC finished the season with an 18-5 record.

Men's soccer returns to Sweet 16

Jelani Pieters' goal in the 53rd minute helped the men's soccer team beat UNCW 2-1 on Sunday and advance to the Sweet 16 for the ninth time in the past 10 years. The Tar Heels will face Southern Methodist at 6 p.m. Saturday at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Women's soccer falls in NCAA third round

The women's soccer team outshot Princeton 24-9 during Sunday's third-round NCAA Tournament game. But UNC fell 2-1 in overtime, ending its season at 17-3-2.

The game was the final one for six Tar Heel seniors, including Joanna Boyles, who came back from two ACL tears to help lead the team.

Dawson delivers

After earning back-to-back ACC Women's Diver of the Week honors, Elissa Dawson continued her strong fall season at the Purdue Invitational.

During the first day of competition on Thursday, she took ninth in the women's three-meter with a score of 270.7. She then finished fifth in the one-meter on Friday with a score of 274.55 before placing second in the 10-meter platform on Saturday, when she posted a 270.75.

On the men's side, Sean Burston stood out. He took fifth in the one-meter on Thursday with a 327.25 and seventh in three-meter on Friday with a 341.25.

Road woes continue for volleyball

Looking to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume, the volleyball team traveled to Notre Dame and Louisville this weekend. But as has been the case all season, UNC struggled on the road.

The Tar Heels suffered a 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-14) defeat at Notre Dame on Friday, marking their first loss to the Fighting Irish since they joined the ACC in 2013. UNC then fell 3-2 (25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 15-11) at Louisville on Sunday.

Entering the final week of play, the Tar Heels visit Wake Forest on Wednesday and Duke on Friday. They're 1-11 away from Carmichael Arena this season.

GoHeels Exclusive: Kea Living Up To The Hype, Olympic Sport Notes

Players Mentioned

Paris Kea

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