Nov. 20, 2007

By Turner Walston

Rebecca Gray was feeling it Monday night against Georgia State. The freshman guard found her spot on the wing, just beyond the arc at Carmichael Auditorium and called for the ball. Rashanda McCants found her. Swish. Georgia State's Monica Mann hit a three of her own, but Cetera DeGraffenreid looked to Gray for the answer. Swish. Two buckets gave the Panthers a boost, but DeGraffenreid found her roommate again. Swish.

In two minutes and 16 seconds of game time, Gray hit three three-point shots and set a career high with 15 points, including two threes in the first half. She finished 5-8 from beyond the arc. "Shooters get in a zone, and I'm trying the best I can to come out of my shell and find my place on this team," Gray said following the game. "That's what I'm here for, to shoot the ball, and I found that zone again tonight," she said. "Once you get it, you just shoot it and you just know it's going in."

Running back on defense, Gray stole a look at the front row to her parents and grandparents. `I guess I can't miss,' she seemed to say. "They're lucky enough to be able to completely move down here," she said. "Season tickets and front row, can't get much better than watching Carolina basketball. They're thrilled and I'm just as thrilled for them to be here."

In closer games, Gray could provide continue to provide thrills for Tar Heel fans. Gray's big night Monday took her to 43 percent from beyond the arc on the season. Last year's Tar Heels shot 33 percent.

In close games in recent years, the Tar Heels have relied on the three-point shot to get them back into games. That's great when it works, but can put the Heels in a deeper hole when it doesn't. If Gray's shooting can draw respect from defenders and open things up for Rashanda McCants and Erlana Larkins, the Tar Heels will be dangerous both inside and out as the season wears on.

On Monday, Gray's big shots lit a fire under a team that could have been lulled to sleep. "She encouraged us," Rashanda McCants said of Gray's hot streak. "She got us up because it was time that we were a little mellow, and she sparked us, so it was a good stretch."

McCants led all scorers Monday with 18 points, and she notched career-highs with 8 assists and 6 steals. McCants' scoring has forced opponents to game plan for her, and she found LaToya Pringle in the post for the first two Tar Heel baskets. "She's just a complete player," Hatchell said of McCants. "She's doing a lot of good things out there."

The Tar Heel bench contributed 44 of the team's 99 points. Joining Gray with a career- high was Iman McFarland, who scored a career-high 14 points on 4-6 shooting, and added 6 rebounds in 14 minutes. Jessica Breland scored 12 in 22 minutes of action.

Curious in the Tar Heels' first six games are the low numbers from Preseason All-ACC forward Erlana Larkins. Larkins scored 5 points on only three field goal attempts on Monday, and is averaging 8.3 points per game for the season. That's down more than five points from her career average of 13.7. Hatchell said teams are focusing on Larkins, and while her numbers are down, that's creating opportunities for her teammates. "She's getting double- and triple-teamed, every time she touches the ball," Hatchell said. "She's been finding Rashanda alot because she's getting double- and triple-teamed. Everybody is focusing on Erlana. She is the key, she's drawing the attention."

In her second start in place of the injured Alex Miller, DeGraffenreid was a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line and finished with 16 points.