Unlikely Lady Tar Heel Steps up in Final Moments Against Georgia Tech

GREENSBORO, NC – The most important free throw in the North Carolina Lady Tar Heels’ victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets yesterday came from a player who hasn’t been to the free-throw line all season.

Even though Tar Heels junior guard Olivia Smith played in 47 games her first two seasons, the last time she played was Dec. 28, 2018 against Howard University. She made a 3-pointer against Howard, which ended up being her only basket of the season: until today.

Tar Heels redshirt senior guard Paris Kea took a shot to the face with 25 seconds left, which forced her to leave the floor. Carolina was in the double-bonus, and had to find someone else to shoot Kea’s free-throws.

“I was going to send Leah up there,” said Tar Heels head coach Sylvia Hatchell, “but Leah was already out there. So, someone off the bench had to shoot her foul shots. And so that’s why I put Olivia in there, because she’s really a good foul shooter.”

Smith went to the free-throw line with a 77-72 Carolina lead.

“Well, coach always talks about always being ready,” Smith said, “and knowing that no matter what little amount of time someone goes in, it’s always important. So when she pointed to me, I knew she had faith I would make those, and I knew that I had to go in and give her at least one of those.” 

After missing her first free throw, Tar Heels redshirt sophomore Jocelyn Jones walked up to Smith and said, “come on you got the next one; this is why you practice.”

Smith made her next free throw to give the Tar Heels a six-point lead. They defeated the Yellow Jackets 80-73 in a game where multiple players stepped up due to the key absences of sophomore center Janelle Bailey, because of disciplinary reasons, and redshirt junior guard Stephanie Watts due to injury.

“It was definitely exciting,” Smith said, “because I do work very hard; and I want to give everything I can everyday. And letting coach know that I do have her back as much as she has mine. And her believing in me today kind of showed that she has noticed that I really am really working hard.”