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UNC Women’s Basketball: Tar Heels knock off No. 1 Notre Dame

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 16: The mascot for the North Carolina Tar Heels in action against the Syracuse Orange during their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 16, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 16: The mascot for the North Carolina Tar Heels in action against the Syracuse Orange during their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 16, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Lady Tar Heels beat No. 1 Notre Dame in Chapel Hill

Paris Kea scored a game-high 30 points, and North Carolina beat No. 1 Notre Dame 78-73 in Chapel Hill on Sunday.

The lady Tar Heels entered the game with an 11-9 record on the season, and a conference mark of just 2-4. Other than some really close calls against some really good teams, the Tar Heels had little more than a handful of respectable losses on their resume. That’s why nobody expected to see them top the nation’s No. 1-ranked team when the Irish came to town this weekend.

But they did just that, and in thrilling fashion.

After trailing by two points at halftime, the Tar Heels outscored the Irish 28-17 in the third quarter. Kea’s big game sparked North Carolina’s offensive outburst in the second half, as she shot 11-17 for the game and 5-of-8 from three-point range. She also dished out a game-high 10 assists to go along with three rebounds and three steals.

https://twitter.com/uncwbb/status/1089627970124300289

Junior guard Stephanie Watts scored 19 points, and sophomore center Janelle Bailey pitched in 16 points and eight rebounds. The improbable win was thanks in part to the Tar Heels’ 40.7 percent mark from three-point range. They also took care of the basketball, winning the turnover battle by eight, and recording seven more steals than Notre Dame.

Four Notre Dame players scored in double-digits, led by Marina Mabrey’s 20. Senior forwards Brianna Turner and Jessica Shepard each added 19 points, and senior guard Arike Ogunbowale scored 13.

The Irish shot better than the Tar Heels both from the floor, and the free throw line. They also outrebounded the Tar Heels, and assisted on more baskets. They committed 20 turnovers for the game, though, and those miscues proved to be too much to overcome. The loss was just the second of the season for Notre Dame, and the team’s first in conference play.

The lady Tar Heels will be back at it on Thursday night, looking to keep their momentum against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Irish will look to regroup after the tough loss when they travel to Clemson for a game against the Tigers on Thursday.

Roy Williams visits Matthew Hurt on Sunday. dark. Next

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