North Carolina
South Carolina
UNC Women's Hoops Pulls Out Win Over USC
December 21, 2000 | Women's Basketball
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Dec. 21, 2000
MYRTLE BEACH, N.C.-North Carolina sophomore point guard Coretta Brown tied a career-high with 27 points and the Tar Heels held off a second-half rally from South Carolina as the UNC women's basketball team defeated the Lady Gamecocks 74-68 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Thursday night. UNC improved its record to 6-3 (1-0 ACC), while South Carolina fell to 3-8.
The Tar Heels began the game with a 19-4 run and led 43-28 at halftime behind 16 first half points from Brown. UNC maintained a 51-41 lead with 11:50 remaining in the game before South Carolina put together a 15-7 spurt to cut the UNC edge to 58-56 with 5:52 left. The Lady Gamecocks reduced the Tar Heels' lead to one point three times in the final 2:17, but never led in the game. "We came out in the second half and missed some shots and I think mentally that just took us out of our game," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "We hung in there and competed and it paid off for us."
After shooting 50.0 percent from the field in the first half, the Tar Heels managed just 27.5 percent (11-40) in the second half. They averaged 37.1 percent for the game, compared with 37.7 percent for South Carolina.
Junior guard Shaunzinski Gortman led South Carolina with 20 points, while junior forward Tatyana Troina produced a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Brown, who previously collected 27 points on Dec. 9 against Maryland, added four assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes of play for UNC.Senior forward LaQuanda Barksdale scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior guard Juana Brown was the only other Tar Heel in double figures with 10 points. Sophomore forward Jennifer Thomas came off the bench to score seven points and grab seven rebounds.The Tar Heels won the rebounding battle, 47-46.
Freshman center Candace Sutton suffered a probable concussion midway through the first half and did not play in the second half.
UNC attempted 20 more free throws than USC, although the Tar Heels converted on just 16 of 31 attempts (51.6%). North Carolina's pressure defense produced 21 turnovers.
"I'm proud of our team for pulling it out," Hatchell said. "We'll learn a lot from this game, especially the second half."
The Tar Heels return to action on Dec. 28, hosting Elon at 7 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium. As a holiday gift to fans, there will be no charge for admission to the game.
