University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Miami
UNC Holds Off Miami, 66-65
February 22, 2015 | Women's Basketball
North Carolina (22-6, 9-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) was paced by 15 points from Allisha Gray and 14 points and 14 rebounds by Stephanie Mavunga. N'Dea Bryant and Brittany Rountree added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Michelle Woods had a game-high 18 points for Miami (18-9, 8-6). Adrienne Motley had 13 points, Jessica Thomas had 12 points and Erykah Davenport contributed 10 off the bench.
Carolina gained a 45-38 lead and control of the game by holding Miami scoreless for over four minutes in the early moments of the second half. The lead was still at seven, 52-45, after Washington converted a three-point play when she got hammered on a fast-break layup.
Grit and determination allowed the visiting Tar Heels to maintain their lead throughout the second half. Every time the Hurricanes got within striking distance, Carolina was able to answer back.
Latifah Coleman put UNC up 64-57 with three minutes left, but the lead slowly dwindled to just two points on a pair of free throws from Michelle Woods with under a minute to go.
Miami had one last chance to tie or take the lead, but Davenport stepped out of bounds with three seconds left. Cherry was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and converted her only two points of the game for a 66-62 Tar Heel lead.
Thomas made a half-court shot at the buzzer, but it was for naught as UNC became just the second team to beat the 'Canes at the BankUnited Center this season.
Both teams shot well beyond the arc to open the game, combining for five three-pointers in 10 attempts. UNC converted three from distance and led 19-15 midway through the first half.
Carolina enjoyed an eight-point advantage in the opening stanza, but consecutive buckets by Motley put Miami in front for the first time, 23-22.
Gray single-handedly gave Carolina the lead back by scoring the next six points, putting her in double figures for the 23rd-consecutive game. She had 11 in the first half to lead all scorers.
Bryant knocked down a base-line jumper for a 33-31 UNC advantage, but Necole Sterling wiggled free from the Tar Heel defense for a three-pointer that gave the Hurricanes a 34-33 lead at intermission.
Carolina will host Senior Night on Thursday against Virginia at 7 p.m.
