North Carolina
13-10, 2-8ACC
Clemson
13-11, 2-9ACC
Carolina Falters Down The Stretch At Clemson
February 5, 2017 | Women's Basketball
North Carolina (13-10, 2-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) appeared in control with a double figure advantage throughout the first half and a 42-31 lead at halftime. However, the Tar Heels shot 31.4 percent and made only two 3-pointers in the second half to allow Clemson back in the game.
The Tigers used a 48-22 edge in paint points to climb over the Tar Heels, registering their second ACC win of the season. Clemson (13-11, 2-9) took its first lead with four minutes, 20 seconds left in regulation and proceeded to outscore UNC 16-6 the rest of the way.
Jamie Cherry, who scored a team-leading 22 points, knocked down three triples in the opening quarter and UNC shot 66.7 percent to take a 23-13 lead.
Carolina opened the second quarter by forcing a shot-clock violation. At the other end, Cherry scored the next five points as the Heels opened up a 28-13 cushion.
The Tar Heels remained in front by double figures the remainder of the first half. A 42-31 lead at intermission was greatly benefited by Cherry's 16 points, and Carolina making six of its 12 attempts from downtown.
Foul trouble plagued Carolina in the third quarter as both Cherry and Alyssa Okoene each picked up their fourth midway into the period. Meanwhile, the Tigers pounded the paint and a 14-7 run whittled the UNC lead down to 49-45.
A layup from Danielle Edwards tied the game at 51-51, but a three-pointer from Olivia Smith put Carolina ahead 54-53 going to the final quarter.
Clemson finally took its first lead with 4:20 left in regulation. Paris Kea (18 points) answered for the Heels, but the Tigers were too much down the stretch in notching their first win over Carolina at Littlejohn since 2000.
UNC hosts Boston College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
