March 27, 2005
Recap |
Box Score |
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North Carolina improved to 30-3 on the year and 2-0 all-time against the Sun Devils. They also improved to 3-7 in Regional
Semi -final games, earning their third birth in the Elite Eight. Previously, they won the NCAA title in 1994 and fell in the Regional
Finals in 1998. The Tar Heels will face the Baylor Bears in the Regional Final on Monday night. Tip-off is at 5:04 pm MST from
Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz.
Arizona State fell to 0-3 in the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament, also having reached the Regional Semi-final game in 1982
and 1983.
North Carolina has now won 16 straight games, the second longest winning streak in school history. The Tar Heels won 32 in a
row spanning two seasons (1993-94 and 1994-95). Their last loss was on Jan. 20 at Florida State, falling in overtime, 79-73.
North Carolina became just the third team in the last 28 tries to win at Wells Fargo Arena against the Sun Devils. No. 1-ranked
Stanford is the only other team this season to have beaten ASU at home.
North Carolina opened the game with a quick 6-0 run in the first 0:42, but Arizona State countered right back, scoring 13
unanswered points over the next 4:21 to take the lead at 13-6 with 14:51 remaining in the first half.
The Tar Heels took the lead, 27-26, on a pair of free throws by Ivory Latta with 6:59 remaining in the first half and never trailed
again in the half. ASU was able to tie it twice in the opening three minutes of the second half, but never got closer than within two
following the 16:30 mark.
Erlana Larkins tied her career-high with 14 rebounds and her seventh double-double of the season. She also tied her career-high
blocks with three on the night.
North Carolina tied a season-low, hitting only two three-pointers in nine attempts. They were two-of-seven against Lipscomb on
Dec. 28 in Chapel Hill.
Ivory Latta became the 24th Tar Heel to score 1000 points, achieving the milestone on a free throw with 1:55 to play. She scored
20 on the night, putting her career total at 1004. She became to the third Tar Heel this season to accomplish the feat and only the
second player in North Carolina history to do it before her junior season. The first was Marion Jones, who finished with 1122
after her sophomore season.
The Sun Devil's Aubree Johnson recorded a double-double, scoring 12 points and hauling down 10 rebounds. It was the second
double-double of the sophomore forward's career.
Kylan Loney hit three-of-four three-pointers in the first half to lead the Sun Devils with 14 points at the break. However, the
North Carolina defense held her to just four points in the second half. Kristin Kovesdy was the second leading scorer on the Sun
Devils at the half with 11 points. She had one field goal in the second half to finish with 13 points.
