University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Lipscomb
No. 18 Carolina Destroys Lipscomb, 95-53
December 7, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Sylvia Hatchell said she doesn't remember when a North Carolina team has had as many injuries as this one.
But with only eight players available against Lipscomb Wednesday night, the No. 18 Tar Heels pressed on pretty effectively.
Chay Shegog had a career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds while Krista Gross added a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds, leading UNC to a 95-53 victory over the Bisons.
The Tar Heels (6-1), who hadn't played since their 103-84 loss at then-No. 16 Penn State last Wednesday, also got a season-high 16 points from Danielle Butts in the freshman's first career start.
And junior Candace Wood, who has had a career plagued with knee problems, added 14 for her first career double-figure game. Wood is the daughter of former UNC All-American Al Wood.
UNC senior forward Laura Broomfield (foot) and freshman guard Shannon Smith (hamstring) rested injuries. Sophomore guard Latifah Coleman was lost for the season with a torn ACL in a Nov. 22 win over Presbyterian. The Tar Heels await the possible return later this month of forward Tierra Ruffin-Pratt from off-season shoulder surgery and 6-6 center Waltiea Rolle who remains on maternity leave.
"I've never had this many injuries," veteran coach Hatchell said. "Never. Shoulders, knees - we've got all these kids on the sidelines who could start for us. We've got five kids who are hurt who could go beat a lot of teams."
Hannah Phillips led Lipscomb (2-9) with 12 points while Anna Bowers added 11.
"We came out and competed and executed and did a lot of good things," Lipscomb coach Frank Bennett said. "Obviously North Carolina is a very good team, even playing shorthanded. They're very talented, they're 6-5 inside (with Shegog) and that's a tough matchup for us."
There were two ties and three lead changes before She'la White's 3-pointer with 14:51 left in the half gave UNC a 10-9 lead it would not relinquish.
"I felt good," said the senior Shegog, currently the Tar Heels' only true center. "We had a couple of lapses, but our freshmen (including starters Megan Buckland and Brittany Rountree) bring a whole lot of energy out there and it helps everybody pick it up as well."
Gross, a 6-foot junior currently playing every position but point guard, scored eight points in the first six minutes and had equaled her previous season high of 13 at intermission.
"In this situation you don't get to take any breaks," Gross said. "You don't try and save yourself, you've just got to keep going and know the rotation is going to move a little bit faster."
UNC shot 47.8 percent to the Bisons' 35.1, won the rebound battle 45-39 and forced 32 Lipscomb turnovers while committing 17.
