University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Hold Winthrop To Record Low, 79-29
January 6, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Erlana Larkins scored 15 points and fifth-ranked North Carolina broke the school record for fewest points allowed in a 79-29 victory over Winthrop on Thursday night.
Camille Little and Ivory Latta each added 10 points for the Tar Heels (12-1), who led by 40 points at halftime in their final tuneup before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play at No. 21 Maryland on Sunday.
North Carolina broke the school record for fewest points allowed of 31 set against Davidson in February 1975.
Jessica Dukes scored 16 points for the Eagles (2-11), who were completely overwhelmed by the Tar Heels' aggressive trapping defenses. Winthrop committed 31 turnovers, and had 13 field goals on 28-percent shooting.
The Tar Heels have won five straight games since losing at Penn State, and head into the league slate as the preseason pick to win the ACC. They were coming off a 79-55 win over Old Dominion, a game that likely did more to prepare North Carolina for conference play than this one.
North Carolina jumped all over the Eagles, taking a 48-8 halftime lead with a suffocating defense. Winthrop committed 20 first-half turnovers, shot 4-for-16 from the floor and went the final 7 minutes of the half without a point.
The Tar Heels, who got plenty of transition baskets off those turnovers, scored the final 19 points of the half to increase their lead.
Little got the Tar Heels going quickly, scoring eight points in the first 3 minutes. She opened with a 3-pointer and added a putback basket.
Then, after one of the Tar Heels' 14 first-half steals, Latta found a trailing Little for a layup and the ensuing free throw that gave the Tar Heels a 12-4 lead.
Nikita Bell's jumper in the lane on the next possession pushed the lead to 10 about 30 seconds later, starting a 9-0 burst that made it 21-4 with 13:26 left in the half.
AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
