University of North Carolina Athletics
Hostile Environment Produces Welcome Result
January 13, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2008
By Turner Walston
It's not easy to beat N.C. State at Reynolds Coliseum. Just ask the Tar Heels. Thirty-five times before Sunday, Tar Heel teams have tipped off against the Wolfpack in Raleigh. Twenty-six times, they've gone home with losses. Last season, Sylvia Hatchell and the then-No. 2 Tar Heels fell behind by 26 in Reynolds before losing, 72-65.
No, it's not easy to beat the Wolfpack in Reynolds Coliseum. What makes it so difficult? It's the screaming fans hoping for a measure of revenge for Saturday's men's game. It's hundreds of balloons in the end zones, taunting free throw shooters. It's the pep band director screaming at the officials. It's the "WOLF-PACK" chant attempting to overpower the "TAR HEEL" verses rising from the visiting Carolina contingent. All contributing to an intimidating atmosphere.
But in the face of that, the Tar Heels knew the game would be won or lost on the court.
Erlana Larkins willed the ball into the basket for nine field goals, despite continuing to suffer from a broken hand. "With her situation, most players would be out for the season and she almost got another double double," Hatchell said. "If all this doesn't make her an All-American, I don't know what does."
Frontcourt mate and fellow senior LaToya Pringle scored eight of her 16 points from free throw line. The Tar Heels won the battle inside, with 42 points in the paint to State's 22. "Both teams have great players (inside)," Pringle said after the game. "I think each team was trying to limit the catches that the big girls had."
The catches were limited, so the Tar Heels that converted on follow-up opportunities. Kay Yow pointed to the 31 second-chance points her team gave up as a key to the Tar Heels victory. The Wolfpack scored just eight.
And it wasn't just the senior Tar Heels stepping up for this rivalry.
There were Heather Claytor and Iman McFarland, drawing charges. There was freshman Italee Lucas, converting a plus-one attempt one trip down the floor, then finding McFarland for an assist on the next. There was Jessica Breland, blocking a jumper that led to a Lucas bucket. There was Cetera DeGraffenreid, intercepting an inbounds pass with less than 90 seconds to go. And there was Rashanda McCants, who struggled from the field but sealed the win at the line.
The entire game, the Tar Heels faced off with not only the Pack, but their rabid fans as well. "I don't know if they could have seen a much more exciting game," Sylvia Hatchell said. "When State made a run, the crowd was all into it. That's another reason I was proud of my team, for the way they weathered the storm."
And had a little fun along the way. Whenever a Tar Heel exited the game, in unison the Wolfpack fans yelled for her to "Sit down!" Upon checking out for Breland late in the game, McFarland deliberately high-fived every single one of her teammates, long after the crowd's call.
With 19 points, eight rebounds, two steals and four blocks between them, McFarland and Breland provided solid contributions off the bench. "It was quite fun," Breland said. "I just didn't want to lose. I was determined not to lose." With many mutual friends between the teams, Breland said the rivalry is a healthy one. "I prepared for this during the preseason," she said. "When I was running, I was focused on this."
On Sunday, Breland and her teammates were focused enough to win on the road. In 34 seasons and 425 games at Reynolds, the Wolfpack have only lost 85 times. Make that 86.
