UNC, Bailey Dominates NC Central After Slow Start

CHAPEL HILL, NC – North Carolina overcame a slow start against North Carolina Central University to pull away late in a 92-53 victory in Carmichael Arena. The UNC women’s basketball team got points from 10 different players to match its season-high in scoring. Junior Janelle Bailey led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. 

“It was kind of a tale of two halves,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. “We came out pretty flat and I really challenged them at halftime to maintain our purpose in terms of ‘us vs. them’, and stay together and play with more energy on the defensive end, and they did that. Any time you get a win in college basketball, you’re psyched about it. Any time you think you can get better from it, that’s even better.”

Senior Shayla Bennett and freshman Malu Tshitenge joined Bailey in double figures with 16 points. The Tar Heels got nine points each from senior Madinah Muhammad and redshirt junior Emily Sullivan, who came off the bench to grab a career-high nine rebounds to go with her season-high scoring total.

UNC started slowly and the score was tied 12-12 midway through the first quarter, but the Tar Heels used a 10-0 run to pull away and they led 22-14 heading into the second period. By halftime, the lead was 43-28. Bailey opened the second half with a bucket to make it a 17-point UNC lead, and the Eagles were never again closer than that.

Paulina Afriyie led NCCU with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Afriyie’s second double-double of the season and 18th of her career consisted of team-best totals of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Ashlyn Lockard followed with nine points.

Anderson and junior Zaria Atkins both contributed six points for the maroon and gray. Junior Kieche White added five assists. NCCU received scoring from 11 total Eagles.

NC Central (1-8) next visits the University of Iowa on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.

Next up for the Tar Heels (8-0) is the team’s first true road game of the season next Sunday, December 15 at Alabama. Tipoff in Tuscaloosa is 3 p.m.