Epic 4th Quarter Pushes UNC Over Minnesota

Friday, November 25

Bimini, Bahamas

7:45 PM

North Carolina

5-1

Minnesota

4-2

Minnesota

North Carolina

Kea Leads Carolina To Season Opening Victory

November 26, 2016 | Women's Basketball

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

BIMINI, Bahamas - Paris Kea scored a career-high 32 points and Jamie Cherry dished out 12 assists on top of 17 points to lead North Carolina to a thrilling 91-77 victory over Minnesota at the Junkanoo Jam.

A game that featured 18 lead changes and 11 ties, North Carolina (5-1) overcome a seven-point deficit in the first half and a five point Minnesota (4-2) cushion in the fourth quarter.

The Tar Heels did that by scoring 34 points in the fourth to pull away late. The Golden Gophers led 58-57 with 10 minutes to play, and it was a one possession game nearly the entire quarter until a 13-0 run pushed Carolina in front for good as the lead grew to as many as 16 points in the final seconds.

Stephanie Watts added 21 points and 11 rebounds in the victory, while Destinee Walker chipped in with 15 points.

Kea's evening was a 14-of-22 performance from the field with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals.

A 10-2 run by the Tar Heels put them up 19-14 with 2:12 left in the first, however, the Golden Gophers closed on an 8-0 run to take the 22-19 lead into the second quarter.

Kea was once again the primary cog in the Carolina offense in the first half. After scoring 17 last night in the opening 20 minutes against USF, the redshirt sophomore guard had 13 more against Minnesota.

But it was her assist to a streaking Alyssa Okoene just before the half that sent the game into intermission knotted at 37-37.

Gadiva Hubbard led Minnesota with 21 points, while Carlie Wagner added 19.

Carolina will face Wisconsin in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Thursday in Madison. Tip time is 8 p.m. ET.