University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Pacific
Women's Hoops Falls To Pacific
November 25, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Xylina McDaniel came off the bench to score 16 points to lead four North Carolina (4-3) players in double figures. Jamie Cherry added 15 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Freshmen guards Destinee Walker and Stephanie Watts each had 11 points. Watts also hauled in 12 rebounds for her first career double-double.
UNC trailed by as many as eight points in the fourth period, but a three pointer from Cherry ignited a quick 7-0 rally to trim the Pacific lead to 57-56. Walker later got UNC within 61-60 with a triple of her own with under three minutes to play.
Pacific led by three with three seconds to play. Carolina got a last second shot from Walker go off the front iron, and the Tigers pulled off the upset of the Tar Heels.
Four Pacific (3-2) players scored in double figures, led by Butler's 15. Desire Finnie tossed in 12 points off the bench, while Mauriana Clayton had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and GeAnna Luaulu-Summers had 11.
Buckets from Bryant and Summers out of halftime put Carolina up 41-34, however, the Tigers rallied for the next 10 points to regain the lead at 44-41 midway through the third period.
Carolina trailed after 10 minutes of play for the first time this season, however, McDaniel's old-fashioned three-point play at the start of the second stanza had Carolina back up 19-18. The Tigers briefly regained the lead, but McDaniel knocked down a jumper and Watts followed with a three-pointer in the corner for a 28-24 Tar Heel lead.
The back-and-forth continued before Carolina took a slim 37-34 lead at the half.
North Carolina takes on Gonzaga Sunday in the finale of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
