GREENSBORO COLISEUM Anyone who bought book tickets to the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament a few months ago could not have predicted she or he would be watching this.
It’s the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game on Thursday afternoon and two of the three recent powers, UNC and Maryland, are playing for a chance to play top-seeded Duke in the same 3 p.m. time slot on Friday.
UNC was favored to win the regular-season championship back before we learned star forward Jessica Breland was going to miss the season battling Hodgkin’s disease. And while the Terps were rebuilding, most figured they’d finish in the top half of the league.
But it hasn’t worked out that way as they battled their way through a very balanced league, and there’s a chance today’s loser may not earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
UNC helped its case plenty with its 64-54 win over the Blue Devils on Saturday, but still can’t be quite sure. And Maryland might still need a signature victory.
Apparently the Terps get it, taking a big lead and holding on for an 83-77 victory and another shot at the Blue Devils.
Today it’s obvious that the Terps, who lost the regular-season meeting at UNC 75-64 on Jan. 17, are just more ready to play.
Maryland comes out of the game looking as if it has been shot out of the proverbial cannon.
The Tar Heels’ only lead is 2-0 before the Terps score the next 12 points, taking the 10-point lead on a Dara Taylor jumper. The lead gets as high as 16, at 24-8 on a three-point play from Tianna Hawkins at 12:19, before the Tar Heels’ offense wakes up.
Maryland has a 41-31 pad at the break.
The Tar Heels get to within four twice with under six minutes left, but the lead goes back to 10 on a Lynetta Kizer layup at 3:14 and a Jackie Nared free throw at 2:13.
A frantic rally ensues, with the Tar Heels slicing the lead to 79-77 on a layup from Cetera DeGraffenreid (pictured) with 12 seconds left. Continue reading »
CARMICHAEL ARENA/CHAPEL HILL It’s yet another edition of the “Battle of the Blues” between archrivals UNC and Duke, and the Blue Devils will come into the Tar Heels’ refurbished arena as strong favorites.
No. 6 Duke (24-4, 12-1) has already clinched the ACC regular-season championship and will have the No. 1 seed for the tournament in Greensboro beginning on Thursday, while the Tar Heels’ season has bordered on a nightmare.
UNC (17-10, 5-8) was the preseason favorite to win the ACC - at least before it was determined that star forward Jessica Breland would not be able to play as she recovers from Hodgkin’s lymphoma - but comes into the matchup having lost seven of its last eight games and desperately needing to do something to impress the NCAA Selection Committee.
It’s a day of dedication for the arena, even though the first game was played here back on Jan. 6, and Gov. Bev Perdue is among those on hand for a halftime ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Duke had embarrassed the Tar Heels on Feb. 8 in Durham, rolling to a 79-51 victory. But today UNC gets some payback in a 64-54 shocker, and Coach Sylvia Hatchell has a very happy 58th birthday.
The win does not come easily for the home team.
The Tar Heels, who start Trinity Bursey and Martina Wood on Senior Day, get out to an 11-5 advantage on a Krista Gross 3-pointer with 16:16 left in the first half and never trail before the break, taking a 30-26 advantage into the locker room.
Duke shoots 26.8 percent from the floor before the break to UNC’s 39.3, and the Blue Devils really never find the hoop all day.
The Blue Devils make a run and then get a big break leading 42-39 with 13:12 to play, when the elbow of UNC freshman Cierra Robertson-Warren’s connects with the neck of Duke winger Karima Christmas and Robertson-Warren is ejected. It’s the first ejection call in ACC women’s basketball this season.
But the Blue Devils’ performance at the free-throw line foreshadows the conclusion. Before Duke gets the ball back Jasmine Thomas misses two on the ejection, then Christmas misses three, then Keturah Jackson misses the front of a one-and-one.
UNC takes the lead for good on a steal and layup from Cetera DeGraffenreid (pictured) with 10:21 to go, and it seems that she takes over the game from that point. The Tar Heels have to endure the mine field of having their two biggest players foul out - Chay Shegog at 5:02 and Waltiea Rolle at 4:20. Continue reading »
CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM It’s one more battle to see which blue-clad women’s basketball team is the best in the Triangle - at least for one night.
And both homestanding No. 8 Duke (18-4, 6-1 ACC) and visiting No. 18 UNC (16-5, 4-3) are in a bit of a bad mood.
The Blue Devils’ chances to run the table in the ACC ended on Thursday, when they got slapped in the face with a 61-57 loss at up-and-down Boston College.
Meanwhile the Tar Heels, who once upon a time were favored to win the conference’s regular-season title, have lost two straight including an 80-69 defeat on Thursday night at Miami that may have made the Hurricanes’ season. We’ll see.
It’s the first time they’ve played each other this millennium when both were coming off a loss.
Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie lost her first six meetings with UNC before the Blue Devils won 81-79 last March 1 on Senior Day at Cameron.
The cameras are in the house for ESPN2’s Big Monday. And Duke gives them a show, putting six players in double figures in a 79-51 rout. Continue reading »
CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM/DURHAM One team has been going through some pretty hard times lately.
The other is coming off one very tough night.
But none of that is likely to matter much tonight at 7, when No. 6 Duke hosts No. 9 UNC as part of ESPN2’s Big Monday.
The Blue Devils (18-4, 6-1 ACC) looked like they might have a chance to sweep through the ACC schedule unblemished before their game on Thursday night at Boston College, which cancelled that idea with a 61-57 upset win.
That was happening at the same time the Tar Heels (16-5, 4-3), who were preseason favorites to win the conference, were dropping their second straight defeat in an 80-69 decision at resurgent Miami. Sylvia Hatchell’s club has struggled on the road this season, going 2-4 away from Chapel Hill.
It will be the first time since 1997 that the teams are facing each other when each lost its previous game. Such a scenario has traditionally bidden well for the Tar Heels, who are 7-1 in games against Duke when each had lost its previous outing.
UNC badly needs a victory to have any realistic chance at the ACC’s regular-season title.
The two teams split last season, with the homestanding Blue Devils winning their regular-season finale 81-79.
Duke held a press luncheon on Friday to discuss the situation.
“I don’t even remember what I felt like last year playing them,” said Duke senior forward Joy Cheek (pictured.) “I felt like it was just another game. When you try to hype it up even more than what it is, that’s when you mess up. It’s been going on for years and years, and it’s a big game because of the schools’ strong competition and rivalry, but you can’t think of it like that. Continue reading »
CARMICHAEL AUDITORIUM/CHAPEL HILL UNC hosts defending ACC champion Maryland in a regionally televised marquee battle of teams that have been headed in opposite directions for the last few days.
The Tar Heels (14-3, 1-1 ACC) are ranked No. 10 nationally, but lost at former conference doormat Virginia Tech on Thursday night on the heels of their blowout defeat at No. 1 Connecticut.
Meanwhile the Terps (14-3, 2-1), who were blown out by 25 in their ACC opener at N.C. State but have since beaten Virginia on the road and also topped Boston College. UNC is favored, but an upset would likely get Maryland into the Top 25.
It’s the first time Carmichael has been over half full since it was reopened Dec. 29 following a year and a half of renovations. And there are about 100 active Maryland fans behind the Terps’ bench.
UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell has shaken up her starting lineup, going with freshman Krista Gross in the backcourt along with Italee Lucas and She’la White, and Laura Broomfield and Chay Shegog (pictured) up front. The bottom line is that the Tar Heels break their losing streak, winning 75-64 and ending a two-game slide in the series. Continue reading »
UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell was right when she talked about it in preseason.
The ACC is pretty balanced this time from top to bottom.
Hatchell’s No. 10 Tar Heels were victims of a big upset Thursday night, falling to Virginia Tech 79-64 at Cassell Coliseum.
UNC (13-3, 1-1 ACC) had been picked to finish first in the conference’s regular-season standings, while the Hokies (11-5, 1-1) were picked 12th and last. It was the Tar Heels’ second straight loss.
In another ACC game matching a pair of ranked teams, No. 7 Duke to a 69-62 win at No. 25 Miami.
Lindsay Biggs’ 19 points led a balanced Virginia Tech offense as the Hokies beat the Tar Heels for the first time since 1984.
Brittany Gordon added 17 points for the Hokies while Northern Durham alumna Utahya Drye (pictured) added 16 and Alyssa Fenyn 10.
Chay Shegog came off the bench for 13 points to lead the Tar Heels, while She’la White added 12 points and Laura Broomfield 11 points with 14 rebounds. Continue reading »
UNC has made a habit of dealing out impressive whippings to visiting teams this season, but this time the Tar Heels were on the other end of it.
They found out there’s a lot of space between No. 7 and No. 1 in women’s basketball right now, falling 88-47 at Connecticut as the Huskies won their 54th straight game.
The nationally televised contest was not pretty, as three UConn players had double-doubles and no Tar Heel even hit double figures. She’la White (pictured), who hit three first-half 3-pointers, led UNC (13-2) with nine points.
Tina Charles had all 25 of her points before halftime and had 13 rebounds to lead the defending NCAA champion Huskies (15-0).
Tiffany Hayes added 15 points for Connecticut, while Maya Moore chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds and Kalana Greene added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Laura Broomfield had 10 rebounds for UNC.
UNC’s next game is at Virginia Tech on Thursday night before the Tar Heels return to Carmichael Auditorium on Jan. 17 against Maryland.
Connecticut will make a visit to the Triangle this season, taking on Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 18.
UNC's Italee Lucas attempts a 3-pointer against Georgia Tech's Brigitte Ardossi. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
CARMICHAEL AUDITORIUM/CHAPEL HILL UNC opens the ACC portion of its women’s basketball season, and the No. 7 Tar Heels appear to be getting a challenge at home.
Tonight’s visitor is No. 20 Georgia Tech, which comes in on an eight-game winning streak including victories in its last three road games.
UNC has historically dominated the series, but the two teams split a pair of home games last season and the Tech program is starting to gain a foothold in the upper echelon of the ACC.
Chay Shegog is back in the lineup for the Tar Heels after missing the previous two games with a concussion, while Tierra Ruffin-Pratt is out with a jammed shoulder and is day-to-day. But the Tar Heels dominate throughout in an 89-78 victory.
The Tar Heels trail for a minute early, but Italee Lucas proceeds to take over the game and has 23 points in the first half. Clicking on all cylinders including a 24-5 run, UNC leads 50-26 at the break. Continue reading »
CARMICHAEL AUDITORIUM/CHAPEL HILL UNC plays its last home non-conference game before the ACC Tournament in women’s basketball, and the Tar Heels are going to be heavily favored.
The visitor is Winston-Salem State, which had at one time been scheduled to be a full member of Division I next season but has given up the quest and will return to full Division II membership next season instead.
It’s the Tar Heels’ third game in five days at Carmichael Auditorium, which has undergone a major renovation to make it a small showpiece arena for women’s basketball and some other sports.
Even though UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell has regular starting guards Cetera DeGraffenreid and Italee Lucas on the bench at the start of the game to motivate them to play more stringent defense, it doesn’t matter. The Tar Heels are ahead 13-0 before either one hits the court.
The biggest lead is 66, when it’s 99-33 with 3:33 left after a pair of Wood free throws.
DeGraffenreid, who became the 31st player to surpass the 1,000-point career mark on Thursday against East Tennessee State, finishes with 15 points to lead six Tar Heels in double figures. Lucas adds 14, She’la White (pictured) 12, Trinity Bursey 11 and Martina Wood and Cierra Robertson-Warren 10 apiece. Nicole Powell, who had 11 career points coming into the game, scores a career best nine including a 3-pointer and is on the receiving end of a successful alley-oop.
Taneisha White comes off the bench to score a career-high 10 for WSSU.
UNC shoots 54.3 percent to WSSU’s 21.3, wins the rebound battle 52-32 and forces 18 turnovers to 16 of its own.
The Tar Heels get a scare with freshman Tierra Ruffin-Pratt screams out in pain when she jams a shoulder at 12:47 of the first half and leaves for the day. Hatchell said X-rays indicate no broken bones, and that her status for upcoming games will be evaluated later.
Sophomore center Chay Shegog misses her second straight game with concussion symptoms, but Hatchell said she should be probable for the ACC opener against Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.
They said it …
UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell: “”This was good to let everybody get some minutes and time out there, because the rest of the way all we’ve got is ACC and UConn. Different people are stepping up. She’la’s driving a lot more and able to dish out. With (White and DeGraffenreid) out there, we can keep our attack going pretty consistently. It was good we were able to let a lot of kids play. … Some of our kids are scoring well, but we’re just trying to get their defense a little bit better. Some people didn’t grade out as high as they should have (in the previous game against East Tennessee State), especially defensively, and that was one of the main reasons (the starting lineup) was changed up. And Trinity has been playing well and in practice and I was trying to reward her.”
WSSU coach Dee Stokes: “Our game plan was we wanted to score 45 points and have less than 25 turnovers. We didn’t accomplish either of those. We wanted to execute our offense the best we could and slow the tempo, and we didn’t do a very good job of that, either.”
White: “It’s fun being out there with Cetera and Italee. We’re so quick, I don’t think anyone can stop it.”
DeGraffenreid: “It’s always fun when you have three different people up there who can push the ball up and down the court. “If you don’t get it, you know they’re going to get it and push it down the floor. It’s been fun.”
What does it all mean?
That the Tar Heels can do a good job keeping focus against an overmatched opponent, even rewarding the deep bench with some easy baskets. That WSSU is going to have a lot of experience playing against top-level basketball teams when it returns to the CIAA next season.
Stars of the game
1. White.
2. DeGraffenreid.
3. Lucas.
Play of the game
Krista Gross’ alley-oop from DeGraffenreid with 3:29 left in the first to make it 46-14.
CARMICHAEL AUDITORIUM/CHAPEL HILL UNC is still getting settled into its “new” old home in women’s basketball, and the No. 7 Tar Heels will close out the year against one more underdog opponent.
Today’s visitor is East Tennessee State (4-5), which has been to Chapel Hill eight times before and come up empty every time.
The Bucs are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, a lower-tier league that doesn’t play football.
ETSU made the move there from the Southern Conference in 2005 after deciding to end its football program. The visitors hang on for a half, but the Tar Heels eventually win 104-65 in their second game in their remodeled arena.
But the Bucs don’t surrender easily, coming out firing up 3-pointers and leading much of the first half.
UNC leads 7-0 on a pair of Cetera DeGraffenreid free throws at 18:39, but the Bucs come back to take the lead at 17-16 on a Siarre Evans 3-pointer at 12:52.
There are three more lead changes and a pair of ties, with the Tar Heels taking the lead for good at 27-25 on Cierra Robertson-Warren’s follow at 7:22. UNC leads 48-35 at halftime.
Italee Lucas leads the Tar Heels with 17 points in their first triple-digit scoring outing of the season. UNC places five in double figures including She’la White (pictured) and DeGraffenreid with 15 points each, Waltiea Rolle with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Martina Wood with 12 points. Continue reading »
Kyle on "UNC holds off pesky NCCU with big second half, awaits selection committee": Mike Potter does Triangle sports fans a wonderful service by providing a unique perspective of events that may not otherwise receive media coverage. Thanks Mike for all you have done and continue to do in your outstanding career as a journalist and an ambassador for the Triangle.
caniacgirl on "Peters and pipes pickpocket a peck of prickly Penguins": I absolutely love the headline! Games like this one definitely reignite the little bit of playoff hope I have left in me. It should be an interesting few weeks that's for sure.
Greg Nccu Student on "Miller leads NCCU to 11th victory": There are a lot of Rumors on Campus about Joanna Miller leaving NCCU next year. Please Coach Robinson, We need to keep this player from gong to another College.
GREENSBORO COLISEUM Anyone who bought book tickets to the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament a few months ago could not have predicted she or he would be watching this.
