University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Oklahoma State
UNC Holds Off Oklahoma State, 79-77
November 20, 2014 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL - No. 11 North Carolina held off a tough 21st-ranked Oklahoma State squad Wednesday evening for a 79-77 victory inside Carmichael Arena.
With the game tied 77-all with less than a minute to play, UNC senior point guard Latifah Coleman drove right down the gut of the Cowgirl defense, and dished a perfect pass to an awaiting Stephanie Mavunga who laid the ball in for what amounted to the game-winning bucket for the Tar Heels.
Oklahoma State (2-1) got a decent shot from star guard Brittney Martin with about 10 seconds on the clock. The ensuing loose ball ended up near mid-court with OSU gaining possession momentarily, but was whistled for traveling.
The inbounds from Carolina went to Brittany Rountree and she was fouled with three seconds to play. Regarded as the top free throw shooter on the team, Rountree unexpectedly missed the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity.
The Cowgirls had one last chance, but their inbounds pass was picked off by Allisha Gray to secure the win for the Tar Heels.
Gray led North Carolina (3-0) for the third time in as many games with a season-best 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
Front court mates Mavunga and Xylina McDaniel both registered double-doubles for the Tar Heels. Mavunga shined with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while McDaniel tossed in 10 points and 10 boards.
Jenks, Okla., native Jessica Washington scored 11 points, and Danielle Butts had a very typical Danielle Butts line with 10 points and six rebounds in only 10 minutes.
Carolina raced out to a 10-0 lead to start the game, but the Cowgirls climbed back and briefly took a 17-15 lead, before the Tar Heels regained its footing and would take the advantage back into double figures at halftime up 40-29.
In the second half, UNC had multiple chances to put the visiting Cowgirls away, but just couldn't do it. The Tar Heels led 50-40, but OSU stormed back to get within 53-51 with 12:28 to go.
Carolina scored the next eight points to lead 61-51, but again Oklahoma State clawed back and got within a point, 63-62, on a bucket from Brittany Atkins (15 points).
A three-point play from Mavunga later put Carolina ahead 77-72 with 1:51 left, but a pair of free throws from Brittney Martin (10 points) and a three-pointer from Roshunda Johnson (21 points) tied the game at 77-all, setting up the heroic pass from Coleman to Mavunga to keep the Tar Heels unbeaten early on in the season.
LaShawn Jones added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma State.
Carolina heads west to take on Oregon Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in Eugene, Ore., on the Pac-12 Network.
