University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Liberty
No. 4 North Carolina Topples Liberty, 88-67
December 30, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- LaToya Pringle scored a career-high 25 points and had 10 rebounds Sunday to lead No. 4 North Carolina past Liberty, 88-67.
North Carolina's All-American Erlana Larkins scored 15 points before leaving the game due to an injured left hand with 17:24 to play. She watched the rest of the game from the bench, with her hand wrapped and iced.
Preliminary examinations show Larkins broke a bone in her left hand, coach Sylvia Hatchell said.
Rashanda McCants added 12 points for North Carolina (13-1). Reserve Jessica Breland chipped in with 11.
Megan Frazee led Liberty (11-2) with 18 points and 15 rebounds before she fouled out with 5:09 left. Triplet sister Molly Frazee had 13 points before fouling out with 1:14 to go.
The Flames committed 35 turnovers and hit just 27 of 62 shots from the field. But they outrebounded North Carolina 42-39 and held the Tar Heels to 29-for-65 (44.6 percent) shooting.
Pringle hit six of eight shots from the field and went 13-of-15 from the line. She scored 14 points in the second half.
North Carolina led 45-31 at the half.
Larkins hit four of her first five shots and had 13 points by halftime.
Liberty trailed just 25-23 after Frazee put back a missed free throw by Courtney Watkins with 6:20 left in the first half. The Flames missed five of their last eight shots of the half.
North Carolina opened the second half with an 8-2 run and led 60-40 after Jennifer Gray hit a 3-pointer with 13:47 left to play. Liberty never again got closer than 60-48.
Frazee hit 9-of-16 from the field and was the only Flame starter to hit at least 50 percent. Her teammates were a combined 18-for-46.
