University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia State
No. 5 North Carolina Cruises Past Georgia St., 79-44
December 19, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2004
By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Ivory Latta had 17 points and a career-high 13 assists to lead No. 5 North Carolina to a 79-44 victory over Georgia State on Sunday in her return to her home state.
Latta struggled through a poor shooting performance, finishing 4-for-16, but South Carolina's high school scoring leader made up for it with her passing, finishing three assists shy of Coretta Brown's team record set against North Carolina A&T in 2000.
The Tar Heels (9-1) also got help from another South Carolina prep star. La'Tangela Atkinson had 15 points and 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
April Clyburn scored 13 points for Georgia State (3-3), which was slowed by 25 turnovers. The Lady Panthers shot just 3-for-21 from 3-point range.
Latta and Atkinson were the main reasons Georgia State struggled.
Latta played at York Comprehensive High, where she was the top scoring player in the state for both boys and girls. Atkinson starred at Lee Central, about 90 minutes from Myrtle Beach.
The two received the loudest cheers in the pregame introduction at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and kept the crowd going throughout with their stellar play.
Atkinson, a junior forward, drew reaction in the second period when she drove under the basket and dished a no-look pass to Jennifer Nelms for an easy basket.
Latta, a sophomore, pushed the ball up court and found open teammates, finishing with a career-high 13 assists.
With the score tied at 12-all, Atkinson and Latta led a 24-10 run over the next 10 minutes that put North Carolina in control. Atkinson took a pass from Latta for an inside basket that initiated the run, and Latta closed the outburst with her first 3-pointer, making it 36-22.
The Lady Panthers faltered against North Carolina's defensive pressure, going the final 8:15 of the half with just one field goal.
Latta added a 3-pointer just before halftime to give the Tar Heels a 45-25 lead at the break.
North Carolina extended its lead to 75-41 with 4:37 on Latta's fourth 3-pointer.
Georgia State played without senior guard Patechia Hartman, who is out because of a deep bone bruise in her left leg.
