Dec. 2, 2001
NORFOLK, VA -- The #24 North Carolina women's basketball team held off a late rally by #17 Old Dominion this afternoon to win, 95-85. With the win, UNC improves to 7-1 while ODU falls to 2-3 on the season.
Both teams seemed up to the challenge early, with UNC racing to a ten point lead early on and Old Dominion resolutely chipping away. The Tar Heels led at the half, 45-39, but Old Dominion held a 24-21 edge in rebounds and held a .457 to .400 shooting advantage.
The Lady Monarchs went ahead early in the second-half on a Okeisha Howard (Va. Beach, VA) jumper, but the Tar Heels regained their lead just minutes later on a Candace Sutton score. Although twice the Tar Heels managed to hold a six-point edge, the Lady Monarchs did not rest continually eating away at the North Carolina lead resulting in five lead changes in the final eight minutes.
Howard gave Old Dominion the lead for the first time since early in the second half following two free throws at the seven minute mark, but North Carolina used a 10-2 run to seal the game. Nikki Teasley sank both free throws to push the lead back to seven for UNC, and the visitors were able to clamp down in the final moments.
Overall, five UNC players recorded double-digit scoring performances, led by forward Nikki Teasley, who scored a season-high 27 points to go along with six rebounds. Coretta Brown also poured in 24 points for a new season-high as well. Chrystal Baptist, the Tar Heel's leading rebounder, also reset her career-high in grabbing 11 boards in the victory.
Old Dominion was paced by junior guard Okeisha Howard (Va. Beach, VA) who led the team with 18 points and 4 assists. Senior center Tiffany Thompson (Clinton, MD) put in eleven points and recorded a game-high ten rebounds, both season-highs, for her first double-double performance of the year.
Old Dominion will be back in action on Thursday, December 6 when they host another Top 25 opponent in Penn State at the Fieldhouse.