UNC Basketball: Tar Heels fall to eighth-ranked NC State

UNC basketball falls to eighth-ranked NC State at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh

Elissa Cunane had a 22-point, 17-rebound double-double on Sunday night, and eighth-ranked NC State beat North Carolina by a final score of 76-68 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

Cunane shot just 4-for-12 from the floor, but hit 14-of-16 free throws on the game. Aislinn Konig added 16 points for the Wolfpack, and Kai Crutchfield scored 13. NC State shot less than 40 percent for the game, but hit 10-of-21 three-point attempts, and 18-of-24 from the free throw line. They won the rebounding battle by 18, and committed just 12 fouls in 40 minutes.

The Wolfpack avenged their loss to the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena on January 9. They had a 14-point lead over North Carolina on Sunday, before the Tar Heels went on a run and closed the gap to just two points midway through the third quarter. They held on in the end, though, and improved their record to 19-1 overall, and 8-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

North Carolina was led by Shayla Bennett, who scored 19 of her 24 points in the second half. She connected on 6-of-13 shots from the floor, and 12-of-14 from the foul line. She also added eight assists and two steals, and committed just two turnovers, despite playing all 40 minutes of the game. Taylor Koenen added 21 points for North Carolina, and was one of just two Tar Heels to score in double-figures for the game.

The Tar Heels shot 40 percent for the game, and from beyond the arc. They hit 12-of-14 from the free throw line, and committed just 11 turnovers for the game. They continually put NC State on the free throw line, though, and their inability to rebound hurt their efforts, too. The loss drops North Carolina to 14-6 on the season, and 5-4 in conference play.

North Carolina will be back in action against the Virginia Cavaliers in Chapel Hill on Thursday night.

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