University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Athletes in Action (Exhibition)
UNC Beats Athletes In Action In Final Exhibition
November 8, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- In its final exhibition game of the preseason, the North Carolina women's basketball team beat Athletes in Action 80-57 Tuesday night at Carmichael Auditorium. Junior guard Ivory Latta turned in a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists, and five other Tar Heels scored nine points or more.
"I like the balance there," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "We've still got a lot of things we need to work on, but we're getting better." Joining Latta in double figures were junior Camille Little (12 points), senior La'Tangela Atkinson (10) and sophomores Erlana Larkins and LaToya Pringle (10 each). Freshman Rashanda McCants finished with nine points on 4-for-8 shooting.
AIA won the rebounding battle 42-38, but the Tar Heels forced 35 turnovers and finished with 23 steals, 20 assists and 16 turnovers. Larkins led the way in steals with six and also had six rebounds and five assists. Atkinson was the top rebounder with seven. Little had five steals and McCants had four.
Kristi Channing, who played at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, was the only AIA player in double figures with 13 points. Molly McDowell (Southern Illinois) scored nine and Channing and Erin Scholz (Colorado) had a team-high seven rebounds each.
The Tar Heels led by seven, 35-28, at halftime after shooting just 38.2 in the first period. But UNC opened the second half with a 7-0 run that included baskets by Latta and sophomore Erlana Larkins and a three-pointer by senior Jessica Sell. After that, AIA didn't get closer than 12 and Carolina led by as many as 30.
"I thought the second half we had a lot more rhythm and flow, especially to start the half," Hatchell said. "I'm not happy that they outrebounded us. but I saw some good things. Some of the younger players are starting to relax and play a little looser and we had some players come off the bench and do some nice things for us."
UNC started the same lineup - Atkinson, Larkins, Latta, Little and Sell - as the first exhibition, a 96-85 win over EA Sports last Thursday. All 13 players who were dressed for the game saw action. Freshman Christina Dewitt sat on the bench in street clothes while serving a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules.
Carolina opens the season on Nov. 18 at home against Davidson. Tipoff at Carmichael Auditorium is 7 p.m.
