University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
11-2
South Carolina State
3-8
Tar Heels Crunch South Carolina State
December 30, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Jamie Cherry added 14 points for North Carolina (11-2) in its final non-conference game of the season. Destinee Walker had 11.
Watts reminded those in attendance of her talents from beyond the arc, making her first four shots from downtown to help Carolina build an early 14-7 edge over the Lady Bulldogs. The sophomore standout knocked down five all together and has 51 for the season.
The Tar Heel defense stepped up in the second, limiting SC State to six points in the period. A layup from Kea upped the lead to 21 points, before Carolina went into halftime up 37-18.
UNC shot a blistering 56.2 percent in a high-scoring third quarter. Cherry scored the opening five points to get things going and Alyssa Okoene's three-point play to close the period saw the Tar Heels lead 62-41 going to the fourth quarter.
With most of the reserves in for the final minutes, the UNC advantage methodically grew to as many as 35 points in the closing moments. Liz Roberts made both of her free throws for her first points with the Tar Heels.
Taylor Koenen and Okoene set season high's with 11 and seven points, respectively.
Bryeasha Blair led South Carolina State (3-8) with 22 points.
North Carolina opens ACC play with a visit to No. 19 Virginia Tech on Monday at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ACC Network Extra.
