University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
8-2
LSU
9-2
LSU Upends Carolina In Myrtle Beach
December 18, 2016 | Women's Basketball
MYRTLE BEACH - Stephanie Watts had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead North Carolina in a 70-43 loss to LSU on Sunday at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
North Carolina (8-2) was handed just its second loss of the season, snapping a four-game winning streak. The Tar Heels scored a season low in points and shot 30 percent for the game.
Watts' effort gave her a fifth double-double of the season. Paris Kea added 11.
Raigyne Moncrief paced LSU (9-2) with 20 points, while Chloe Jackson and Alexis Hyder chipped in 12 points each and Ayana Mitchell had 11 and 10 boards.
A sluggish start by the Tar Heels allowed LSU to grab a 12-2 advantage midway through the first quarter. Watts scored on Carolina's first possession, however, the Tar Heels didn't add to their point total again until the Tigers advantage grew to double figures on a bucket from Jackson at the 5:17 mark.
A Watts three-pointer and a jumper from Kea got UNC within 24-17 of the Tigers with 3:05 showing on the second-quarter clock. LSU responded with the next six points, but a running left-handed bank shot from Watts cut the Carolina deficit to 32-24 at halftime.
Watts (14) and Kea (9) combined to score 23 of UNC's 24 points in the first half.
LSU left little doubt to the outcome with a 13-2 run to open the fourth quarter, and later led by as many as 27 at the final buzzer.
North Carolina takes on Jacksonville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. from the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
