University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
7-1
Elon
4-3
Carolina Shoots Down Elon
December 5, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Kea put together another strong game with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists against only one turnover. Jamie Cherry and Stephanie Watts each chipped in with 17 points and both knocked down a trio of three-pointers.
Essence Baucom and Ra'Shika White both scored 17 points as well to lead Elon (4-3). Shay Burnett added 12.
A crisp, well-played first quarter saw both teams shoot at least 50.0 percent from the field. Kea scored nine points to pace the Tar Heels, while a balanced attack by the Phoenix saw the game tied, 21-21, after 10 minutes.
After 11 lead changes alone in the first, the momentum switched hands a total of 15 times in the first half. A three-pointer by Destinee Walker directly in front of the Elon bench put Carolina ahead, 31-29, with 4:08 left in the first half.
Watts closed the second quarter with a three-pointer, and then an acrobatic layup at the buzzer gave UNC a 42-38 lead at halftime.
Cherry knocked down her third three-pointer of the game, and then converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give Carolina a 48-40 edge. But the Phoenix continued to stay within an arms length with the Tar Heels only leading 60-59 heading to the final quarter.
Freshman Taylor Koenen was called on to play some important minutes with Watts in foul trouble in the fourth. She responded with five of her nine points in the final quarter to increase the Tar Heel advantage to 69-61.
The Phoenix continued to knock down shots to stay within two possessions, but a clutch jumper from Cherry in the final minute secured the win for the Heels.
North Carolina (7-1) honored perhaps its most decorated player in program history and current Elon head coach Charlotte Smith with a bobblehead giveaway to fans in attendance. Sunday also marked the 22nd anniversary of Smith's dunk against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 4, 1994.
UNC hosts Marshall on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
