Boston College Athletics
Boston College
North Carolina *
Tar Heels Outlast Eagles, 69-62
February 20, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2006
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Ivory Latta scored 23 points to lead to lead second-ranked North Carolina past No. 17 Boston College 69-62 on Monday night.
Camille Little added 16 points for the Tar Heels (25-1, 12-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who had a tough time putting away the Eagles to set up a weekend matchup with top-ranked Duke that will likely determine the league's regular-season title.
Erlana Larkins chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds for North Carolina, which has won at least 25 games in nine of the past 13 seasons.
Kindyll Dorsey scored 22 points to lead Boston College (19-8, 6-6), which shot the ball well but couldn't overcome 25 turnovers against the Tar Heels' aggressive trapping defense.
North Carolina fell behind by seven in the first half and had trouble consistently getting easy baskets in transition, a staple of coach Sylvia Hatchell's teams.
And despite coming in with the league's third-rated field-goal defense at 36 percent, they allowed the Eagles to shoot 50 percent and hit eight 3-pointers.
But the Tar Heels used a 12-point spurt to go ahead to stay after falling in the early hole - forcing six straight turnovers at one point - and using a 10-2 run after the break to stay in control and take a 52-40 lead with 10:55 left.
Latta made the biggest play to cap that run, which also summed up the Eagles' struggles protecting the basketball. The 5-foot-6 guard got caught defending 6-4 Lisa Macchia in the post, but she managed to strip Macchia as she turned to shoot in the lane. Latta quickly corralled the loose ball and pushed it upcourt - smiling as she crossed halfcourt - for a layup and the 12-point lead.
Then, after Boston College closed to 52-46, Latta knocked down a jumper and hit a hanging layup off the glass to push the margin back to 10.
