Jan. 7, 2009

Game Notes in PDF Format

CLEMSON, S.C. --- North Carolina (14-0) begins its defense of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title Thursday when the Tar Heels travel to South Carolina to face the Clemson Lady Tigers at 7 p.m. Carolina is coming off a 93-61 win over Austin Peay on Dec. 30. Clemson (10-4) is coming off a 74-68 win at Miami on Monday. Carolina is ranked No. 2 in both the AP poll and the coaches' poll. Clemson is unranked.

AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 14-0 (0-0 ACC), Clemson 10-4 (1-0 ACC)
Rankings: North Carolina is ranked No. 2 in both the AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll. Clemson is unranked.
TV: ACC Select. Today's game is available live and on-demand at ACCSelect.com.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, a division of Learfield Communications. Brad Heller (play-by-play) and Jan Boxill (analyst) have the call.
On The Web: TarHeelBlue.com (UNC), ClemsonTigers.com (Clemson)

CAROLINA IN ACC OPENERS
• The Tar Heels are 24-7 in ACC openers all-time, with a 17-5 mark under Sylvia Hatchell.
• Carolina has won 13 of its last 14 ACC openers, with the lone loss coming at Maryland on Jan. 9, 2005.
• UNC opened league play against Georgia Tech each of the last two years. The Tar Heels last opened against Clemson on Jan. 6, 2006 - a 102-61 win in Chapel Hill.

CLEMSON SERIES NOTES
• North Carolina is 45-26 all-time against Clemson, including a 13-14 mark in Clemson.
• Carolina won both matchups in 2008, a 79-47 victory in Chapel Hill and a 97-77 decision in Greensboro, N.C., in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
• The Tar Heels have won 12 straight against the Lady Tigers, UNC's longest winning streak in the series.
• After meeting at least twice in every season since 1981-82, Carolina and Clemson have played just once in each of the last four regular seasons.
• Clemson's last win in the series came in 2001, a 75-57 victory in the ACC Tournament. The Lady Tigers haven't won in Clemson since a 69-65 decision in 2000.

NOTING THE LADY TIGERS
• Clemson is 10-4 on the season and 1-0 in the ACC following a 74-68 win at Miami on Monday.
• Junior guard/forward Lele Hardy leads the Lady Tigers in scoring and rebounding with 17.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest.

STREAKS
• Carolina has won 14 in a row to start the 2008-09 season, marking the third time in four seasons that the Tar Heels have started at least 14-0. The 2005-06 team started 22-0, while the 06-07 squad started 24-0.
• UNC has also win 14 consecutive regular season ACC contests and 20 straight games over ACC opponents. Carolina's last loss to an ACC team came at Duke on Feb. 25, 2007.
• Clemson has won seven of its last nine games and five of its last six at home.