University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Women's Basketball Drops Exhibition Game
November 3, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 3, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -The Russian Junior National Team topped the University of North Carolina 82-77 Wednesday evening at Carmichael Auditorium in the Tar Heels' first exhibition game of the 1999-2000 season.
Junior LaQuanda Barksdale led the Tar Heels with 28 points and 12 rebounds. She was 12-for-12 from the free throw line. Junior forward Jackie Higgins added 15 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Juana Brown scored 14.
Olga Arteshina led the Russian team with 19 points, while Elena Grishina added 17. For the game, the Russians shot 53.3 percent from the field, compared with Carolina's 40.3 percent.
After trailing 49-36 at halftime, Carolina tied the game at 67-67 on a three-pointer by Juana Brown with 4:31 to play but did not manage to take the lead.
"We learned a lot tonight," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "We got down but kept our composure, came back and didn't quit. Defensively, we had a lot of breakdowns. Some of that is the freshmen learning how to play in different situations."
Freshman Coretta Brown started at point guard for the Tar Heels. In 29 minutes of play, she scored 10 points and totaled four assists and four turnovers. "I thought Coretta played pretty well for her first game," Hatchell said. "And Jackie Higgins showed she is going to have a great year."
Four Carolina players-junior guard Nikki Teasley, sophomore center LaShonda Allen, freshman guard Cherie Lea and freshman forward Jennifer Thomas-did not dress for the game because they have not yet met team conditioning requirements.
The Tar Heels' second exhibition game is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. UNC opens the season on Nov. 20 at the Four in the Fall in Lubbock, Texas.
