No. 7 UNC Dominates TCU 77-54

Saturday, November 26

Cancun, Mexico

5:10 PM

North Carolina

TCU (Caribbean Classic)

Tar Heel Duo Named To Preseason Wade List

November 26, 2005 | Women's Basketball

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Nov. 26, 2005

Complete Results | Photo Gallery

RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico -- With four players in double figures, the seventh-ranked North Carolina women's basketball team beat TCU 77-54 Saturday to improve to 4-0 on the season and wrap up play at the Caribbean Classic. Playing at the Aventura Spa Palace, the Tar Heels used a 14-0 first-half run to pull away from the Lady Frogs (2-2) early then maintained a double-digit lead through the rest of the game.

"I thought we played well at times and our defense looked good at times," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "Erlana Larkins made some incredible plays on defense and on offense, and I thought the freshmen played well. It was a good team effort."

Junior guard Ivory Latta finished with a team-high 18 points, including three three-pointers, and also had five steals. Larkins, a sophomore forward, had 14 points on six-for-seven shooting, nine rebounds and four assists. Freshman Rashanda McCants had 13 points for her second double-figure game in a row, and junior forward Camille Little scored 12 points and added five rebounds and four assists.

The Tar Heels shot a season-best 53.7 percent from the field, 57.9 percent (11-19) from three-point range. Freshman Heather Claytor drained all three of her attempts to finish with nine points, and Latta and McCants each hit three. Little and senior Jessica Sell hit one each.

Ashley Davis was the only Lady Frog in double figures with 14 points. TCU, the 2005 Conference USA champion and now a member of the Mountain West Conference, shot 39.6 percent from the field.

Both teams got off to a slow start and TCU led 5-3 at first media timeout with 15:58 on the clock. When action resumed, UNC started its run. Little hit a three then scored on the rebound of her own miss on the next possession. After a Larkins steal led to a layup by senior La'Tangela Atkinson, TCU called a timeout with UNC up 10-5. The Tar Heels continued to roll, however, with another basket by Little and a jumper by McCants, who followed up her score with a blocked shot and rebound on the other end. Latta made her second basket of the game then hit one of two free throws on a technical foul to complete the 14-0 run and put the Tar Heels up 17-5 with 12:32 on the clock. TCU never got closer than 10 after that, and UNC stretched its lead to as many as 28 points, at 77-49 with 1:51 to play.

"We were a little stagnant to begin the game, but once we started getting the ball inside and making the extra passes, we got good shots," Hatchell said. "We were able to get some defensive rebounds and get our fast break going."

All 14 UNC players saw action and eight scored.

The Tar Heels finished the Caribbean Classic with a 2-0 record, including a win 79-72 win over No. 16 Arizona State Friday in their first game of the seven-team event. UNC will return to Chapel Hill on Sunday after five days in Mexico. "Games like these help us test where we are at this point in the season," Hatchell said. "I think we've improved on this trip because of the two teams we've played. And it's been a really great trip and a fun experience for our players."