University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
8-1
Marshall
5-3
Carolina Rolls Past Marshall, 75-53
December 8, 2016 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL --- Jamie Cherry had a game-high 19 points to lead North Carolina to a 75-53 win over visiting Marshall Wednesday night at Carmichael Arena. Carolina trailed by four after one quarter but outscored the Thundering Herd 25-7 in the second 10-minute period to take control. Destinee Walker added 15 points and Hillary Fuller had 11 for the Tar Heels, who improved to 8-1 ahead of an 11-day break for final exams.
Marshall (5-3) jumped out to an early lead and looked poised to give another major conference team a test, just four days removed from an 82-80 loss at Penn State. Shayna Gore's buzzer-beating triple gave the Thundering Herd a 20-16 lead after 10 minutes of play.
But the Tar Heels responded with some of their best team defense of the year, limiting the visitors to just seven points in the second quarter. Cherry had a pair of buckets to fuel an 8-0 run to start the period and Walker's late 3 capped a 14-2 spurt that put Carolina up 14 at the break.
Paris Kea, who had a game-high seven assists and four steals, connected from deep to open the second half and Marshall never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
Stephanie Watts had an uncharacteristic off night from the floor but still contributed nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Taylor Koenen and Alyssa Okoene provided a spark off the bench, combining for 11 points and nine rebounds. Okoene also had a game-high three blocks.
Gore led Marshall with 10 points but was limited to 4-of-16 shooting and had just three points after the opening period.
Carolina now enters an extended break for final exams before making its annual trip to Myrtle Beach to play LSU and Jacksonville on Dec. 18 and 20.
