University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 18 Tar Heels Look To Stop Slide At Virginia
February 14, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2010
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- North Carolina (16-7, 4-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) hopes to snap its first four-game losing streak since 2000 when the Tar Heels visit Virginia Monday night at 7 at John Paul Jones Arena. UNC lost its fourth straight game Thursday, a 69-62 setback to Boston College. Virginia (18-6, 7-3 ACC) is coming off a 69-63 overtime win at Miami on Thursday. Carolina is ranked No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the coaches' poll. Virginia is ranked No. 21 in the coaches' poll.
AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 16-7 (4-5 ACC), Virginia 18-6 (7-3 ACC)
Rankings: North Carolina is ranked No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll. Virginia is ranked No. 21 in the coaches' poll.
TV: ESPN2. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analyst) have the call.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, a division of Learfield Communications. Brad Heller (play-by-play) and Jan Boxill (analyst) have the call.
On The Web: TarHeelBlue.com (UNC), VirginiaSports.com (Virginia)
VIRGINIA SERIES NOTES
• North Carolina is 44-31 all-time against Virginia, including a 12-18 mark in Charlottesville.
• After playing at least twice every season since 1981-82, Carolina and Virginia will play just once in the regular season for the fourth straight year in 2010.
• UNC played one of its best games of the season in the lone 2009 meeting, defeating the Cavaliers, 103-74.
• Carolina has won 13 straight in the series, the longest such streak for UNC against Virginia. The Tar Heels also won nine straight from 1977-82. UVa's best run was 14 straight wins from 1987-92.
• Virginia's last win in the series was a 69-59 victory in Charlottesville in 2003.
NOTING THE CAVALIERS
• Virginia is 18-6 on the season and 7-3 in the ACC following a 69-63 win at Miami on Thursday.
• The Cavaliers are led by senior Monica Wright, the ACC's leading scorer with 22.7 points per game.
• Wright also leads UVa in rebounding (6.4 rpg), assists (3.0 apg) and steals (3.8 spg).
LAST TIME OUT
Feb. 11: Boston College 69, No. 18 UNC 62
CHAPEL HILL (AP) --- Carolyn Swords scored 14 points to help Boston College beat No. 18 North Carolina 69-62 on Thursday night, giving Crawley a win against her alma mater. Kerri Shields added 13 points and Mickel Picco had 12 for the Eagles (14-10, 5-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won their third straight. Italee Lucas scored 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting to lead North Carolina (16-7, 4-5), which has lost four in a row for the first time since 2000. Waltiea Rolle added 11 points and Chay Shegog had 10 points for the Tar Heels.
CAROLINA IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICS
The most recent NCAA statistics report was released on Feb. 11, and the Tar Heels are highly ranked in a number of categories. UNC is among the nation's top 10 in three categories - scoring, blocks and three-point field goal defense. Here are the categories that feature Carolina in the top 30 (all stats per game):
• Three-point Field Goal Defense - 5th (25.8)
• Scoring - 8th (78.4)
• Blocks - 9th (5.9)
• Rebound Margin - 24th (+6.6)
• Assists - 26th (15.8)
• Steals - 30th (10.7)
FREE THROWS EQUAL WINS FOR DeGRAFFENREID, TAR HEELS
The Jan. 25 win over NC State marked the 16th time in her career that junior Cetera DeGraffenreid has attempted at least 10 free throws, and the Tar Heels are 15-1 in those games. DeGraffenreid and classmate Italee Lucas both rank among the top 10 in school history in career free throw percentage.
CAROLINA IN CARMICHAEL
• Carolina returned to Carmichael Dec. 29 after a year and a half absence, during which the Tar Heels won 25 of 26 games at the Dean E. Smith Center.
• UNC is 379-85 (.817) all-time in Carmichael, its primary home since the first varsity season of 1974-75.
• Prior to the most recent renovation, the Tar Heels were on quite a roll in the historic gym. Beginning with the 2001-02 season, Carolina posted a 103-6 home record in Carmichael.
DeGRAFFENREID, LUCAS JOIN 1,000-POINT CLUB
With seven points in the win over Kennesaw State on Dec. 29, junior Cetera DeGraffenreid became the 31st player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. She currently stands 28th overall with 1,121 points. Junior Italee Lucas reached the milestone with six points against Duke on Feb. 8. Lucas currently stands 32nd overall with 1,014 points.
LUCAS MOVES INTO THREE-POINT TOP 10 LIST
With three made three-pointers Dec. 13 against Gardner-Webb, junior guard Italee Lucas took over sole possession of 10th place in the all-time UNC career threes list. The Las Vegas, Nev., product has made 133 career threes in 93 games, and is also in the top 10 in career three-point percentage with a 35.8 (133-371) percent mark.
