University of North Carolina Athletics
Erlana Larkins was Most Outstanding Player at the 2007 Dallas Regional
Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications
Celebrate Carolina: Larkins' Elite Play Led UNC To Final Four
June 25, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Next in our continuing Celebrate Carolina series, we feature an elite performance in an Elite Eight game.
On March 27, 2007, in Dallas, the Tar Heels faced off against Purdue with a Final Four trip on the line. Erlana Larkins, a 6-1 forward from Riviera Beach, Fla., was instrumental for UNC throughout the NCAA Tournament win, but had two especially key stretches in the second half:
• After UNC led by seven points, 35-28, at halftime, Larkins helped the Tar Heels start the second half strong, scoring eight of the team's first 10 points.
• With just under seven minutes to play in the game, Purdue pulled within four, 64-60. UNC answered with a 7-0 run, with Larkins contributing to every point. She kicked off the run with a three-point play then assisted on the next two baskets.
She would finish the game with a career-high 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting, 10 rebounds (including six on the offensive boards), four steals and three assists in 32 minutes on the floor.
That followed a Sweet 16 performance in which she had 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals in a win over George Washington.
For her play in the two games, Larkins was named the Dallas Region Most Outstanding Player.
The Tar Heels' 84-72 win over Purdue set a school record for victories with Carolina's 34th of the season and sent UNC to the first back-to-back Final Fours in program history
Larkins finished her Carolina career ranked among the program's all-time best in scoring (seventh), field goal percentage (second), total rebounds (third), steals (fifth) and blocks (seventh). She was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and went on to earn a championship in 2012 with the Indiana Fever.
On March 27, 2007, in Dallas, the Tar Heels faced off against Purdue with a Final Four trip on the line. Erlana Larkins, a 6-1 forward from Riviera Beach, Fla., was instrumental for UNC throughout the NCAA Tournament win, but had two especially key stretches in the second half:
• After UNC led by seven points, 35-28, at halftime, Larkins helped the Tar Heels start the second half strong, scoring eight of the team's first 10 points.
• With just under seven minutes to play in the game, Purdue pulled within four, 64-60. UNC answered with a 7-0 run, with Larkins contributing to every point. She kicked off the run with a three-point play then assisted on the next two baskets.
Celebrate Carolina! 🎉
Erlana Larkins was an elite player. She helped guide the Tar Heels to 2 straight Final Fours and finished her UNC career 3rd all-time in rebounds & 7th in scoring. She then went on to win a @WNBA 🏆 with the @IndianaFever!#TBT | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/jXJgKgLFly
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) June 25, 2020
She would finish the game with a career-high 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting, 10 rebounds (including six on the offensive boards), four steals and three assists in 32 minutes on the floor.
That followed a Sweet 16 performance in which she had 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals in a win over George Washington.
For her play in the two games, Larkins was named the Dallas Region Most Outstanding Player.
The Tar Heels' 84-72 win over Purdue set a school record for victories with Carolina's 34th of the season and sent UNC to the first back-to-back Final Fours in program history
Larkins finished her Carolina career ranked among the program's all-time best in scoring (seventh), field goal percentage (second), total rebounds (third), steals (fifth) and blocks (seventh). She was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and went on to earn a championship in 2012 with the Indiana Fever.
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