University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UCLA
Gray Does It Again To UCLA In 84-68 Carolina Win
November 16, 2014 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL - There is something about UCLA that brings out the best in North Carolina sophomore guard Allisha Gray.
A year-removed from scoring 30 points against the Bruins last year in Los Angeles, Gray scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as the No. 13 Tar Heels picked up an 84-68 victory over 23rd-ranked UCLA Sunday afternoon in Carmichael Arena.
Along with Gray's 19-point, 6-rebound effort, North Carolina (2-0) received 17 points from Brittany Rountree, 16 points and eight boards from Xylina McDaniel and 10 each from reserve guards Jamie Cherry and Jessica Washington.
Nirra Fields paced UCLA (0-2) with 21 points on 8-of-24 shooting.
Tied at 27-27, Gray fueled a 15-2 run that put Carolina in the drivers seat with a 42-29 lead with just over five minutes until halftime.
Gray, had 11 of Carolina's 15 points in the run. First it was an old-fashioned three-point play to get her going. The next possession was a buzzer-beating three-pointer that was equal parts luck and skill as she turned and fired with the shot clock winding down.
After another UCLA miss, she drained a mid-range jumper. Next Rountree knocked down one of her four triples, while Gray capped the run with another from distance.
The Bruins got to within five, 45-40, by intermission, and within three after a Luiana Livulu bucket to start the second half, however, UNC scored the next 10 to regain momentum and a 55-42 lead.
That aforementioned momentum briefly came to a collective stop when Gray and Stephanie Mavunga each picked up their fourth fouls exactly four seconds apart.
But the Tar Heels picked it up with a 21-4 run that saw the lead swell to 66-46 with 13:27 to go.
Carolina ended up playing without Gray and Mavunga for over 11 minutes, but upon their return the lead was still a manageable 71-63.
Rountree, who's 17 points was the most points for the senior since midway through her 2012-13 sophomore season canned back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead back to 14 points, 77-63.
The Bruins never got within single digits over the final 5:30.
Carolina hosts No. 21 Oklahoma State on Wednesday at 6 p.m., on ESPN3.
