Miami Falls to North Carolina
Feb. 21, 2008
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -Erlana Larkins scored 18 points to lead No. 2 North Carolina to a 79-61 victory over Miami on Thursday night.
Rashanda McCants finished with 17 points and Rebecca Gray scored 15 points as the Tar Heels wore down the Hurricanes with two first-half runs. North Carolina (25-2, 12-0) has won eight straight and 16 of its past 17. Maurita Reid scored 18 points to lead Miami (9-17, 2-9).
The Hurricanes have lost eight of their past nine. Trailing 12-9, the Tar Heels scored 16 unanswered points in a span of 5:50 in the first half and took the lead for good. McCants scored eight points during the spurt.
Jessica Breland’s short jumper with 7:12 remaining in the half capped the run. Reid hit three 3-pointers in the next 1:50 as the Hurricanes cut North Carolina’s lead to 27-21. Damisha Moore’s field goal with 3:50 left again cut North Carolina’s advantage to six at 29-23. But the Tar Heels outscored the Hurricanes 18-5 the rest of the half, behind Gray’s eight points, including two 3-pointers.
