University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Women's Hoops Falls At Virginia, 69-59
March 2, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 2, 2003
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Virginia is playing its best basketball of the season at the right time.
LaTonya Blue scored a game-high 25 points and had 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers beat No. 8 North Carolina 69-59 Sunday for their eighth win in the last 10 games heading into the ACC tournament.
"We worked really hard to get to this point," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "We're 7-1 in the last half of the ACC season and 8-2 in our last 10 games. I'm really excited for this team and how they've stayed together."
Virginia (15-12, 9-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 30-17 in the first half and fought off a comeback bid when the Tar Heels pulled to 46-44 with 7:08 left. The Cavaliers went on a 10-0 run to secure their fifth straight ACC win.
lue hit 4-of-6 3-pointers and handed out five assists. Virginia outrebounded the Tar Heels 51-36.
"We really worked on that this week," Ryan said.
UNC (25-4, 13-3) was led by Coretta Brown with 16 points on 5-of-19 shooting. Leah Metcalf added 13 points.
Cherrise Graham had 14 points while sophomore Brandi Teamer added 11 points for Virginia. The Cavaliers lost 74-54 at North Carolina on Jan. 30.
"We wanted (the win) really badly," Graham said. "They embarrassed us down there."
Virginia finished third in the ACC. The conference tournament begins Friday in Greensboro, N.C., and the Cavaliers are on the bubble for an NCAA tournament berth.
"This was big for (Virginia) as far as the NCAA tournament goes and they showed it," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell added. "They're playing more as a team, they know their roles better, and they're playing with confidence."
