University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Premier Players
Larkins Paces Tar Heels In Exhibition Win
October 31, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2007
CHAPEL HILL --- North Carolina senior forward Erlana Larkins finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Tar Heels defeated Premier Players, 102-75, Wednesday night at Carmichael Auditorium. Eleven players scored for UNC, including four in double figures, as the hosts dominated throughout.
After a sluggish opening eight minutes that saw Carolina lead by just five at 19-14 with 11:40 left in the first half, the Tar Heels went on a 21-2 run to effectively put the game out of reach. UNC would push the lead to 32 at 53-21 before going into the locker room with a 55-27 advantage.
Premier Players would get as close as 20 at 69-49 with 12:58 left in regulation, but the Tar Heels extended the lead back out to 36 with 6:42 remaining. As the game wound down, the only drama was whether or not Carolina would reach the 100-point plateau, and a Trinity Bursey bucket with 2:02 made it 100-68. Carolina scored at least 100 points four times in 2006-07 en route to leading the nation in scoring.
Sophomore forwards Jessica Breland and Martina Wood and junior guard Rashanda McCants joined Larkins in double figures. Breland had 18 points and nine rebounds, while Wood, who redshirted the 2006-07 campaign, finished with 13 on 6-of-8 shooting. McCants had 11 points and six assists.
Tuesday night was the first appearance for a trio of Carolina freshmen. Italee Lucas finished with four points and three rebounds to go with a game-high nine assists. Cetera DeGraffenreid also scored four points in addition to collecting four steals and three assists. Rebecca Gray had four points as well to go with three assists.
Premier Players were led by former Tar Heel Leah Metcalf, who finished with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Carolina will be in action again on Nov. 6 with an exhibition game against the China National Team at 7 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium.
