University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Take Down Virginia Tech, 93-67
February 11, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - La'Tangela Atkinson almost is as adept at avoiding attention as she is at doing the things on the court that demand it.
Told she was three assists short of the first triple-double in North Carolina history, she simply shrugged. As if she expected to be the type of player to fill up the stat sheet like that, she responded with two words, "Yes, sir."
That's fine. Her skills on the court say plenty.
Atkinson had 12 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven assists, and Ivory Latta broke out of a shooting slump to score 19 points to help No. 8 North Carolina beat Virginia Tech 93-67 Friday night.
"I think she was trying to be like LeBron James," Latta said of her teammate.
Coach Sylvia Hatchell is used to seeing that type of effort from Atkinson, an athletic, 6-foot-1 wing player equally comfortable in the paint or on the perimeter.
"Tangie is just a silent player out there," Hatchell said. "When you look at the stats, you think, 'Wow.' You don't really notice it and she doesn't get credit for it, but she does so much for us."
Reserve LaToya Pringle had 16 points for the Tar Heels (20-3, 8-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who cruised to their sixth victory in a row with an inspired effort in the second half. They forced turnovers on Virginia Tech's first three possessions after the break and opened with a 14-2 run, helped by three opportunities for three-point plays.
The Hokies (14-8, 3-6) struggled just to get shots. They turned it over seven times in the first 5 minutes of the second half and finished with 24 overall - including seven by center Erin Gibson. Since reaching No. 23 in The Associated Press' poll on Jan. 17, Virginia Tech is 3-5.
Kerri Garden and Dawn Chriss led the Hokies with 14 points apiece.
"When you look at their team, they have a list a mile long with high school All-Americas," Virginia Tech coach Beth Dunkenberger said. "It's one of the most talented teams that anybody will see this season. They've got players coming off the bench that would start at 99 percent of the schools in the country."
The Tar Heels started their winning streak by snapping a 12-game losing streak to Duke, and this victory helped them move within a half-game of the first-place Blue Devils in the ACC. A pair of Duke players got to see this one firsthand with guards Monique Currie and Wanisha Smith joining the crowd on the Virginia Tech side of the court.
They probably didn't enjoy watching Latta. In her previous six games, she shot only 20 percent (9-of-45) on 3-pointers, even while her team found its groove. She was 4-of-7 behind the arc against Virginia Tech to lead five players in double figures.
"I don't think it bothered me that much," Latta said. "The last couple of games, I've been thinking. Tonight, I wasn't thinking. Like coach told me, take my time, take good shots and set my feet. That's what I did."
Nikita Bell finished with 14 points, five assists and seven steals, and Erlana Larkins added 13. The Tar Heels shot 54 percent, outrebounded the Hokies 46-28 and finished with 25 assists on 38 baskets.
"It's good team basketball, that's what I like," Hatchell said.
Gibson and Carrie Mason scored 12 points each for Virginia Tech.
"You've got to give them credit," Gardin said. "In the second half, they came out and played hard, and we weren't ready. They're tall and they're athletic. They just rotate continuously with the height and the athleticism."
KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
