Cherry's three-pointer lifted the Tar Heels past Pitt on Sunday.
GoHeels Exclusive: Cherry Boosts Women's Hoops & Olympic Sports Notes
January 8, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Featured Writers
by Pat James, GoHeels.com
With about a minute left in the third quarter of Sunday's 68-67 win against Pittsburgh, the North Carolina women's basketball team needed a boost.
The Tar Heels had entered halftime leading 33-30. But nine minutes into the second half, they trailed 49-43 and were struggling mightily against Pittsburgh's zone defense, having made just two of their last 12 shots.
From the bench, Leah Church looked on. She hadn't played a single minute. Yet she knew that if she received a chance, whenever that might be, she'd be prepared.
"The key is just being ready," Church said. "Coaches preach to just bring energy when you get the chance. So I'm always ready, I'm always trying to stay focused and I just try to mentally prepare what I'm going to do when I go in the game."
That mindset proved pivotal for Church and UNC, as she finally entered the contest with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter and provided the necessary spark in the team's first Atlantic Coast Conference win.
Just 12 seconds after subbing in, Church was fouled on a corner 3-pointer. She made 2-of-3 free throws. She stayed on the court when the fourth quarter began and hit a 3-pointer on the Tar Heels' first possession, cutting Pittsburgh's lead to 51-48. The shot attempt was her first in a game since Dec. 19.
UNC pulled within one point moments later. But after Paris Kea's jumper with eight minutes, 24 seconds left, the Panthers went on a 6-0 run that handed them a 60-52 lead, their largest of the game.
Church prevented Pittsburgh from building on that, though. The world record-holder for 3-pointers (32) in a minute, she made one on the ensuing possession. About a minute later, her hot shooting caused the defense to collapse toward her, freeing Jamie Cherry for a 3-pointer.
The Tar Heels' offensive woes against the zone seemed distant by then. And with a career-high eight points in just 10 minutes, Church's play helped set the stage for Cherry's game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.
"(She) is one of the best shooters in the ACC …" said Cherry of Church. "We had me and Paris out there driving and kicking. So anytime I could get into the lane, my first option was to find (her). I knew she was somewhere out on the three. And every time I pass it to her, I already know it's going in."
Ness notches more wins
After opening the season with a 4-1 record, Chip Ness, a redshirt junior on the wrestling team, entered the second day of the South Beach Duals on Dec. 30 having lost five straight matches.
That streak ended with a 21-4 technical fall against Bryce Shewan of SIU-Edwardsville. And the result ultimately marked the start of a different type of streak, a six-match winning streak that he continued in the UNC Duals on Friday and against Arizona State on Saturday.
In the UNC Duals – which the Tar Heels concluded with a 28-12 victory over Army West Point and losses against Wyoming and American – Ness won all three of his bouts, highlighted by a 16-0 technical fall against Prince Hyeamang of American.Â
Ness then registered one of UNC's three victories in a 27-9 loss against Arizona State. Trailing Kordell Norfleet 5-3 at the end of the first period, Ness' winning streak appeared to be in jeopardy. But he answered with the last three takedowns of the match to score an 11-7 decision.
Fencing returns to action
For the first time since the Brandeis Invitational on Dec. 3, members of the fencing team participated in an event, the January North American Cup in Virginia Beach, Va.
Freshman Andrew Fulmer opened the four-day competition for the Tar Heels on Friday in Division I men's epee. He ultimately placed 132nd in a field of 285.
Sophomore Jackie Litynski led UNC on Saturday, finishing 27th in junior women's sabre (field of 127). Freshman Clara Somfelean took 109th in the event. On the men's side, freshman Bernard Witek finished 99th in Division I men's sabre (field of 178).
Witek came back Sunday and registered the best finish by any Tar Heel so far in the competition, taking 19th in junior men's sabre (field of 175). In a Division I women's sabre field of 136, Litynski and Somfelean placed 56th and 107th, respectively.
UNC will finish competing in the event on Monday.
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With about a minute left in the third quarter of Sunday's 68-67 win against Pittsburgh, the North Carolina women's basketball team needed a boost.
The Tar Heels had entered halftime leading 33-30. But nine minutes into the second half, they trailed 49-43 and were struggling mightily against Pittsburgh's zone defense, having made just two of their last 12 shots.
From the bench, Leah Church looked on. She hadn't played a single minute. Yet she knew that if she received a chance, whenever that might be, she'd be prepared.
"The key is just being ready," Church said. "Coaches preach to just bring energy when you get the chance. So I'm always ready, I'm always trying to stay focused and I just try to mentally prepare what I'm going to do when I go in the game."
That mindset proved pivotal for Church and UNC, as she finally entered the contest with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter and provided the necessary spark in the team's first Atlantic Coast Conference win.
Just 12 seconds after subbing in, Church was fouled on a corner 3-pointer. She made 2-of-3 free throws. She stayed on the court when the fourth quarter began and hit a 3-pointer on the Tar Heels' first possession, cutting Pittsburgh's lead to 51-48. The shot attempt was her first in a game since Dec. 19.
UNC pulled within one point moments later. But after Paris Kea's jumper with eight minutes, 24 seconds left, the Panthers went on a 6-0 run that handed them a 60-52 lead, their largest of the game.
Church prevented Pittsburgh from building on that, though. The world record-holder for 3-pointers (32) in a minute, she made one on the ensuing possession. About a minute later, her hot shooting caused the defense to collapse toward her, freeing Jamie Cherry for a 3-pointer.
The Tar Heels' offensive woes against the zone seemed distant by then. And with a career-high eight points in just 10 minutes, Church's play helped set the stage for Cherry's game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.
"(She) is one of the best shooters in the ACC …" said Cherry of Church. "We had me and Paris out there driving and kicking. So anytime I could get into the lane, my first option was to find (her). I knew she was somewhere out on the three. And every time I pass it to her, I already know it's going in."
Ness notches more wins
After opening the season with a 4-1 record, Chip Ness, a redshirt junior on the wrestling team, entered the second day of the South Beach Duals on Dec. 30 having lost five straight matches.
That streak ended with a 21-4 technical fall against Bryce Shewan of SIU-Edwardsville. And the result ultimately marked the start of a different type of streak, a six-match winning streak that he continued in the UNC Duals on Friday and against Arizona State on Saturday.
In the UNC Duals – which the Tar Heels concluded with a 28-12 victory over Army West Point and losses against Wyoming and American – Ness won all three of his bouts, highlighted by a 16-0 technical fall against Prince Hyeamang of American.Â
Ness then registered one of UNC's three victories in a 27-9 loss against Arizona State. Trailing Kordell Norfleet 5-3 at the end of the first period, Ness' winning streak appeared to be in jeopardy. But he answered with the last three takedowns of the match to score an 11-7 decision.
Fencing returns to action
For the first time since the Brandeis Invitational on Dec. 3, members of the fencing team participated in an event, the January North American Cup in Virginia Beach, Va.
Freshman Andrew Fulmer opened the four-day competition for the Tar Heels on Friday in Division I men's epee. He ultimately placed 132nd in a field of 285.
Sophomore Jackie Litynski led UNC on Saturday, finishing 27th in junior women's sabre (field of 127). Freshman Clara Somfelean took 109th in the event. On the men's side, freshman Bernard Witek finished 99th in Division I men's sabre (field of 178).
Witek came back Sunday and registered the best finish by any Tar Heel so far in the competition, taking 19th in junior men's sabre (field of 175). In a Division I women's sabre field of 136, Litynski and Somfelean placed 56th and 107th, respectively.
UNC will finish competing in the event on Monday.
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Players Mentioned
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