UNC guard Stephanie Watts shooting a layup
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Lady Tar Heels Win Three Straight After Victory Over Yellow Jackets

Landon Bost

CHAPEL HILL, Nc. – The University of North Carolina Tar Heels (13-9, 4-4 ACC) defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (13-8, 3-5 ACC) 91-90 off a last second free throw by sophomore center Janelle Bailey.

The Tar Heels lead the Yellow Jackets the entire game, until Yellow Jackets sophomore guard Kierra Fletcher scored a basket that game them an 87-86 lead with 50 seconds left.

Redshirt senior guard Paris Kea quickly responded by drilling a mid-range, jump shot, off the dribble to give the lead back to the Tar Heels with 42 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, the Tar Heels forced the Yellow Jackets into a shot clock violation with 10 seconds left. Down 88-87, The Yellow Jackets were forced to foul. Kea calmly stepped to the free-throw line, and nailed both free throws to give the Tar Heels a 90-87 lead.

Elizabeth Balogun’s free-throw to tie the game at 90 all.

Yellow Jackets head coach MaChelle Joseph, called a timeout to advance the ball into the frontcourt.

Coming out of the timeout, the Yellow Jackets inbounded the ball to freshman guard Lotta-Maj Lahtinen around the top of key. She found freshman guard Elizabeth Balogun on the left wing. Balogun, dribbled to the top of the key, and was fouled by redshirt junior guard Stephanie Watts while shooting a 3-pointer with two second left.

In spite of the noisy crowd, Balogun drained all three free throws to even the scored at 90.

Tar Heels head coach Sylvia Hatchell called a timeout to advance the ball into the front court, and give the Tar Heels a side out-of-bounds play.

Janelle Bailey’s last second shot she was fouled on.

Sophomore guard Taylor Koenen, lobbed the ball up to Bailey after Kea, and junior guard Shayla Bennett set double-diagonal screens to give Bailey space. Bailey caught the ball in the left post, was fouled on a turnaround jump shot by Yellow Jackets junior guard Chanin Scott with one second left.

Bailey stepped to the line, and missed the first free throw.

She regained her composure, and drilled the next free throw giving the Tar Heels a 91-90 lead. The Yellow Jackets missed a desperation, three-quarters-court heave, and the Tar Heels captured their third straight win.

Impact Players

Elizabeth Balogun, Yellow Jackets freshman guard: Balogun was red-hot the entire game, and went 11-20 from the field for a career-high of 35 points.

Janelle Bailey, Tar Heels sophomore center: Bailey finished with 20 points, and 6 rebounds. She struggled early to find her shot, but made shots when the team needed them.

Paris Kea, Tar Heels redshirt senior guard: Kea finished as the Tar Heels’ leading scorer with 29 points, as well as the game’s leader in assists with six assists.

Game Commentary

  • The Tar Heels started the game on a 10-2 run.
  • The Yellows Jackets played a full-court press majority of the game.
  • The Tar Heels were up 48-37 at halftime.
  • The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Tar Heels 39-24.
  • The Tar Heels shot 29-59, 49.2%, from the field, and 12-23, 52.2%, from the 3-point line.
  • Five different Tar Heels scored in double figures.
Paris Kea driving to the basket against Elizabeth Balogun

Quick Hits

  • Watts fouled out with two seconds left in the game, when she Balogun on her 3-point attempt. Watts finished the game with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
  • Yellow Jackets forward Lorela Cubaj finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds
  • The game was never tied after the first basket of the game by Bennett with 9:33 left in the first quarter.
  • Four different Tar Heels played 38, or more minutes.
  • There were more fouls, 47, than minutes played, 40, in the game.

Firsthand Perspective

“I think when they went to the press in the second half, that actually helped Paris (Kea),” Hatchell said. In the open court, she’s pretty doggone good.”

“Like coach Hatchell said, they’re always a super, physical team,” Watts said. “We came out ready to play. Like coach Hatchell said, we need to rebound a little bit more. They’re always super physical, that’s why a lot of people were in foul trouble, but I’m just glad we came out on the better things today.”

“It’s been a tough three weeks for me, just up-and-down, and I just try to be true to myself and trust my game, teammates and coaches. I know they both believe in me. I just went to the line, and knew it was just one shot, and I had everybody behind me in the stands; and then I wanted to do it for my team. We needed this win. We didn’t want to be a one hit wonder, and we just have to keep going forward.”

What’s Next

The Yellow Jackets travel to South Bend, I.N. to play Norte Dame (20-2, 7-1 ACC ) at noon EST on Sunday, Feb. 3.

The Tar Heels play the undefeated, and No. 7 ranked NC State Wolfpack (21-0, 8-0 ACC) in Raleigh on Sunday, Feb 3 in rivalry game.