University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson
Tar Heels Dominate Clemson In ACC First Round, 90-51
March 1, 2012 | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2012
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) ---Freshman Brittany Rountree scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers to help North Carolina beat Clemson 90-51 in Thursday's first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
The fifth-seeded Tar Heels (20-10) led by 49 after halftime and earned their biggest victory margin in an ACC tournament game. They avenged a 52-47 home loss to Clemson in January and face No. 15 Georgia Tech in Friday's quarterfinals.
Laura Broomfield, the league's leading rebounder, added 11 points and 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Tierra Ruffin-Pratt had 14 points and a season-high six assists.
Nikki Dixon scored 14 for the 12th-seeded Tigers (6-22).
North Carolina shot 29 percent and 1 for 17 from 3-point range in the first meeting. This time, the Tar Heels shot 49 percent, including 55 percent after halftime, and scored 33 points off 25 turnovers.
"I thought we had a great team effort out there today," said North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell. "We shared the ball and played some good team ball. I knew this team was capable of doing this. I actually thought that we played a really good second half against Duke on Sunday.
"Of course these two young ladies had a great game," Hatchell continued. "Brittany (Rountree) is a great shooter, and she played well against Duke on Sunday and then of course again today as well. (Tierra Ruffin-Pratt) has a couple of really great games, and today, you know she scored well, but she did a lot of things - six assists to no turnovers, a blocked shot, a steal. She's doing all those things out there that make us a better team. I was pleased with the effort and to come out with this win."
Rountree had four 3s to help UNC build a 44-25 halftime lead and her seven 3s tied a tournament record. She had five against Duke last weekend and has hit 12 of 17 3-pointers in the past two games.
