University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Connecticut (Preseason WNIT)
Women's Basketball Falls to No. 1 UConn, 94-74
November 15, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Nov 15, 2001
STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Sue Bird scored 20 points, and Tamika Williams grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds to lead top-ranked Connecticut to a 94-74 victory over North Carolina on Thursday night in the semifinal of the preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament.
The Huskies (3-0) advance to the championship Sunday against No. 3 Vanderbilt (3-0), which beat No. 12 Colorado 72-51 in Thursday night's other semifinal.
The Tar Heels (2-1) were no match in the post for the more physical Huskies, who outrebounded North Carolina 70-31. Williams combined with forwards Swin Cash and Asjha Jones for 43 points. Nearly all were layups - the finishing touch on the Huskies' transition game - and the Huskies outscored North Carolina 60-22 in the paint.
UConn's rebounds fueled the fastbreak all night. Williams had nine rebounds in the first 12 minutes to give the Huskies a 24-14 rebounding edge. The Tarheels had speed but remained a step behind UConn's crisp passes from Bird and Diana Taurasi, who combined for nine assists.
Taurasi entered Thursday's game with a team-leading 18.5 points a game, but didn't score until the final three minutes of the first half. When she did, she struck quickly. The sophomore guard, who finished with 14 points, hit two straight 3-pointers and a layup in less than a minute to give UConn a 47-30. UConn had a 51-34 lead at the break and led by as much as 30 points in the second half.
UNC's freshman guard Leah Metcalf had a career-high 25 points, and Coretta rown added 17. Adding 10 points each were sophomore center Candace Sutton and senior guard Nikki Teasley, who played just 24 minutes due to foul trouble.
"Connecticut is a really good team," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "I think our team learned a lot tonight and is going to get better and better."
The Tar Heels return to action on Tuesday when they host Western Carolina at 7 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium.
