Chapel Hill, N.C. -- No. 7 North Carolina is known for its defense, but it was Nikita Bell's early second-half offensive burst that put Virginia in a hole they were unable to climb out of.
The six-foot forward scored six straight points to open second half play, helping ignite the struggling Tar Heel offense into shooting 50 percent from the field and nearly doubling its first half tally on the way to a 74-54 romp over the Cavaliers. Virginia was especially hurt by its inability to keep UNC off the glass.
"I thought we got killed rebounding wise," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "Defensively I thought we were fairly solid until about the seven minute mark.We're a pretty good defensive team, but the wheels came off when they got up 10 or 11 points."
North Carolina had five players in double figures and demolished the Cavaliers on the offensive boards, 24-12. Bell led the team with 21 points, including 13 in the second-half for a Tar Heel offense that outscored Virginia 48-29 in the final stanza.
Virginia leading scorer Cherrise Graham, averaging 15.3 points per game before tonight, was stone cold from the field throughout the evening.The sophomore guard shot an uncharacteristic 1-of-9 from the field and finished with only six points.Her school record consecutive free throw shooting streak was stopped at 31 tonight, when she missed with 11:46 left in the second half.
Sophomore guard LaTonya Blue led Virginia with 14 points but also turned the ball over a team-high seven times. The Cavaliers' 27 turnovers were the most Virginia has given up since November.
"I think a lot of our turnovers tonight were unforced," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "Just making bad decisions, trying to do too much and throwing the ball through people's hands."
In the first half the Tar Heels, who entered the contest ranked fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense at 34 percent, were overshadowed by Virginia's own defensive prowess. While the Cavalier offense managed to hit 41.7 percent of its shots, the Tar Heels were held to a measly 24.4 percent shooting. Virginia held the lead for most of the first half, but entered the locker room down 26-25.
The Tar Heels quickly grabbed a seven-point lead less than two minutes into the second half. The Cavaliers stayed within 10 points for most of the half but North Carolina closed out the contest.
After coming into the game atop the ACC in free-throw shooting percentage, the Cavaliers sank only nine of 23 free throws. Blue and freshman center Deidra Chatman shot a combined 1-for-8 from the line.
Last night's contest extended Virginia's road losing streak to nine games. The Cavaliers are 0-5 against ACC opponents away from U-Hall, but have won three of their last four contests at home. The Cavaliers face both Clemson and Wake Forest next week at home.
"I wish we could play as good on the road as we do at home, but we can't," said sophomore Brandi Teamer, who scored 12 and grabbed eight boards. "I think everybody feels a lot more comfortable about this home trip we have coming up."
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