University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
North Carolina Central
No. 8 North Carolina Routs N.C. Central 109-32
November 10, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -Rashanda McCants knew coming into this season that No. 8 North Carolina would need more offense from her.
For one game at least, she delivered.
McCants scored a career-high 17 points and the Tar Heels set a school record for largest margin of victory by beating North Carolina Central 109-32 on Friday night.
"I was thinking about how other games are going to be and how I'm going to have to attack more for me to be better," McCants said. "That's definitely on my mind."
Freshman Cetera DeGraffenreid added 16 points for the Tar Heels, who opened with 15 straight points against the Eagles, who were making their Division I debut.
North Carolina sparkled behind McCants, who showed an aggressive offensive streak she'd rarely displayed in her first two years here. The younger sister of former North Carolina men's star Rashad McCants scored eight of the Tar Heels' first 15 points in their opening flurry.
McCants was a fourth or fifth option for last year's Tar Heels, who made their second straight trip to the Final Four and won their third straight Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title. But with the graduation of All-America point guard Ivory Latta and forward Camille Little, the Tar Heels need more scorers.
McCants stripped balls and converted them into fastbreak layups, and tipped in errant shots from her teammates. She was so good inside that Erlana Larkins, the team's leading returning scorer, didn't take a shot until the first possession of the second half.
Still, she got plenty of help. Seven players scored in double figures, including senior guard Alex Miller, who had 15 points and five assists. Meanwhile, DeGraffenreid finished with four assists and five steals.
"There were lots of good things," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "Seven players scoring in double figures, the freshmen getting some experience, getting to be relaxed out there and smile on the court. ... It was just a good team effort."
The Tar Heels' defense also started fast, forcing turnovers on six of N.C. Central's first eight possessions and 21 in the first half to lead 56-16 at the break. For the game, North Carolina scored 46 points off 30 turnovers.
With McCants and the defense playing well, the Tar Heels got good looks at DeGraffenreid and fellow freshman Italee Lucas - two highly touted guards expected to give the program a similar spark as the feisty Latta did. Both had flashy moments and hit teammates with no-look passes for assists.
"They're getting better," said Miller, who will split time at point guard with the freshmen. "They're getting a lot better. Better on defense, better pushing the ball, better on getting back. I'm a good teacher."
Latoya Bennett, Tonia Roundtree and LaVonna Hailey each scored seven points to lead N.C. Central.
"This is their first year ever being in Division I," N.C. Central coach Joli Robinson said of her team. "They don't know really what to expect. They've seen it. Being surrounded with and being against it is a big difference. Hopefully each game, we can get better and better."
