North Carolina
Hawaii
Carolina Takes Third In Rainbow Wahine Classic
December 1, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Dec 1, 2002
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HONOLULU (AP) - La'Tangela Atkinson scored a game-high 19 points in her first career start and No. 11 North Carolina used a late 11-0 run in the second half to beat Hawaii 61-50 in the third-place game of the Rainbow Wahine Classic on Sunday night.
Coretta Brown and Candace Sutton each had 12 points for the Tar Heels (4-1).
Jade Abele led Hawaii (3-2) with 13 points, and April Atuaia had 10.
After Hawaii closed to 45-41 with 10:15 remaining, the Tar Heels scored the next 11 points. Brown hit a jumper and a three-pointer then Nikita Bell, Atkinson and Sutton added field goals. The Rainbow Wahine were held scoreless until Abele made two free throws with 3:52 left.
The Tar Heels took the lead for good midway through the first half, going on a 12-2 run after Hawaii led 10-9. The Rainbow Wahine had 10 turnovers in the half, six of them UNC steals.
"I thought we started off playing well offensively," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "When we made our runs, rebounding was big. We were getting shots around the basket and putbacks."
Connecticut won the tournament title, with Oklahoma finishing second. Brown and Sutton were named to the eight-member all-tournament team.
UNC returns to action on Thursday with a 7 p.m. game against Appalachian State. The game will be played at the Dean E. Smith Center, due to NCAA volleyball action at Carmichael Auditorium.
