University of North Carolina Athletics
Thursday, November 28
Cancun, Mex.
9 PM ET
North Carolina
71
vs
58
Temple
Madinah Muhammad scored 20 points to lead the Tar Heels against Temple.
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Tar Heels 5-0 After Win Over Temple
November 28, 2019 | Women's Basketball
CANCUN, Mexico – With four players in double figures, led by senior guard Madinah Muhammad's 20 points, the UNC women's basketball team beat Temple Thursday night 71-58 in Cancun Challenge play. Competing at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, the Tar Heels never trailed, starting the game with a 12-0 run and holding onto a double-digit advantage throughout the second half.
With the win, the Tar Heels are 5-0 for the first time since 2014. Temple fell to 4-3.
"It was a really gritty battle," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said of Carolina's first game this season away from Carmichael Arena. "It didn't come easy – we fought hard."
Carolina has a quick turnaround before its next Cancun Challenge action. The Tar Heels face Missouri Friday at 6:30 p.m.
UNC junior Janelle Bailey finished the Temple game with her third double-double of the season, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with 19 points. Her first rebound was the 600th of her career and made her the 26th player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 600 boards.
Shayla Bennett scored 15 for UNC and Taylor Koenen, playing in her 100th game as a Tar Heel, added 10 points, all in the second half.
Freshman Malu Tshitenge had 11 rebounds, grabbing double-digit boards for the third game in a row.
Muhammad hit back-to-back threes to open the game and had 10 of UNC's 12 points in the team's early run. She scored all but three of her points before halftime, helping the Tar Heels to a 42-20 lead at the break.
The Owls hit 10 of their 17 shots in the third quarter (58.8 percent) while Carolina struggled (35.7 percent), but Temple could get no closer than 14. In the fourth quarter the Owls twice pulled within 12.
UNC hit a season-high 24 free throw attempts on a season-high 37 attempts. Bailey was 9-for-12 and Bennett was 5-for-7.
Muhammad's 20 was her high this season, her first playing for the Tar Heels after three years at Mississippi and a year on the bench under transfer rules. She finished 4-for-6 from three-point range, 6-for-8 overall.
Temple won the rebounding battle, 50-40, with the difference coming on the offensive glass, where the Owls had an 18-8 advantage.
With the win, the Tar Heels are 5-0 for the first time since 2014. Temple fell to 4-3.
"It was a really gritty battle," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said of Carolina's first game this season away from Carmichael Arena. "It didn't come easy – we fought hard."
Carolina has a quick turnaround before its next Cancun Challenge action. The Tar Heels face Missouri Friday at 6:30 p.m.
UNC junior Janelle Bailey finished the Temple game with her third double-double of the season, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with 19 points. Her first rebound was the 600th of her career and made her the 26th player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 600 boards.
Shayla Bennett scored 15 for UNC and Taylor Koenen, playing in her 100th game as a Tar Heel, added 10 points, all in the second half.
Freshman Malu Tshitenge had 11 rebounds, grabbing double-digit boards for the third game in a row.
Muhammad hit back-to-back threes to open the game and had 10 of UNC's 12 points in the team's early run. She scored all but three of her points before halftime, helping the Tar Heels to a 42-20 lead at the break.
The Owls hit 10 of their 17 shots in the third quarter (58.8 percent) while Carolina struggled (35.7 percent), but Temple could get no closer than 14. In the fourth quarter the Owls twice pulled within 12.
UNC hit a season-high 24 free throw attempts on a season-high 37 attempts. Bailey was 9-for-12 and Bennett was 5-for-7.
Muhammad's 20 was her high this season, her first playing for the Tar Heels after three years at Mississippi and a year on the bench under transfer rules. She finished 4-for-6 from three-point range, 6-for-8 overall.
Temple won the rebounding battle, 50-40, with the difference coming on the offensive glass, where the Owls had an 18-8 advantage.
Players Mentioned
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