Dec. 30, 2004
By KEITH PARSONS
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Ivory Latta scored 19 of her 24 points during adazzling second half, helping No. 7 North Carolina to a 79-55 victory over OldDominion on Thursday.
Erlana Larkins added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Tar Heels (11-1), whowon their fourth in a row after a loss at Penn State.
With several members of the game day staff in Charlotte, N.C., for NorthCarolina's appearance in the Continental Tire Bowl, the game was moved to theDean E. Smith Center.
A sparse but enthusiastic crowd of 1,112 took advantage of free admissionand free parking to watch the Tar Heels avenge a 73-68 loss to the LadyMonarchs last season.
This one wasn't that close, mostly thanks to Latta. With fellow point guardRaymond Felton and many of his Tar Heel teammates watching from the front row,she made five consecutive shots during a five-minute stretch of the second halfto help North Carolina take control.
Latta swished a jumper, added a 3-pointer, then drove in for a layup after anifty pass from Nikita Bell. Later, Latta got fouled on a 3 and converted allthree free throws before connecting again from long range to make it 58-35.
She left for a rest, but the damage already was done. Old Dominion (4-4)never got closer and still is looking for its first road victory of the seasonto complement a 21-game home winning streak.
Tiffany Green led the Monarchs with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but leadingscorer Shareese Grant finished with only six, more than 12 off her average. Shefouled out with about five minutes left.
The Tar Heels led by only seven after a sloppy first half during which theteams combined for 29 turnovers. It didn't get much better for the Monarchsafter the break. After making only 29 percent of their shots in the opening 20minutes, they shot 30 percent and had another 12 turnovers.
For the first time this season, Larkins failed to make at least half of hershots and finished 5-for-11. She came in shooting a nation-leading 71 percentfrom the field.