March 21, 2003

Carrie Davis, Nikita Bell, Chrystal Baptist and Kenya McBee before fastening their seatbelts for the flight to Colorado. Liz Coughran and Coretta Brown enjoyed seats in first class, one of the benefits of being seniors. The Tar Heels held a two-hour practice Thursday morning at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Three members of UNC's 1994 NCAA Championship team - Charlotte Smith-Taylor, coach Sylvia Hatchell and Carrie McKee - got together following practice. McKee, who now lives in Colorado Springs, and Smith-Taylor, now a UNC assistant coach, were both juniors on that squad. After practice, the team lifted weights then took a look around the Olympic Training Center. Candace Sutton and Jennifer Thomas took tips from the boxing cutouts that are part of the Irwin Belk Olympic Path. Belk also is the namesake of the track at UNC.

Leah Metcalf and Courtney Chambers tried a tae kwon do move. Metcalf got into the judo spirit.

The UNC women's basketball team arrived in Colorado Wednesday night in preparation for its first-round game against Austin Peay on Saturday in Boulder. The team had planned to fly into Denver, but was unable to do so because of a major snowstorm that closed the airport.

Instead, the Tar Heels' charter, carrying the team, staff, band and cheerleaders, flew into Colorado Springs, where the traveling party spent Wednesday night. On Thursday, UNC practiced at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs before busing up to Boulder, where NCAA Tournament activities begin on Friday. Carolina will hold an open practice from noon to 1 p.m. Mountain time then meet the media for a half-hour press conference.

Games begin Saturday at 7:18 p.m. MT (9:18 Eastern time) when the third-seeded Tar Heels meet No. 14 Austin Peay. BYU plays host Colorado 30 minutes after the conclusion of the UNC-APSU game. The winners play Monday at a time to be announced following Saturday's games.