Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A quick start propelled No. 5 North Carolina to a 102-42 victory over Wofford Sunday afternoon in women’s basketball action inside Carmichael Auditorium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Junior Kate Dempsey put the Terriers on the board at 19:08, but it would be their only points until the 8:20 mark when Dempsey scored again. North Carolina (10-1), meanwhile, rattled off 36 points, including a 32-0 run, covering that timeframe for a 36-4 lead.  Cetera DeGraffenreid hit 5-of-6 free throws and added a layup for seven points, while Rashanda McCants chipped in nine and Rebecca Gray tallied eight. Seven different Tar Heels scored during the spurt.

UNC continued to add to its advantage quickly. Italee Lucas hit a corner 3-pointer and a running layup, while Iman McFarland and DeGraffenreid also added buckets to give the Heels a 48-9 lead at the under four-minute timeout of the first half.

Wofford (3-4) received a late first half spark from bench players. Freshman Mahagony Williams connected on two of her three free throws and added a basket underneath, while sophomore Kristin Bradley hit on her only field goal attempt, a 3-pointer, with 3:00 minutes to play. North Carolina closed the half by scoring its final four points from the charity stripe for a 55-18 halftime lead. Junior Laura Depko registered a reverse layup for the Terriers’ final points of the stanza with just over a minute remaining.

Junior Summer Nichols gave Wofford a lift to begin the second half as she scored the team’s first six points, while sophomore Kathlyn Varno registered a pair of steals and displayed hustle after loose balls to open the frame.

The Tar Heels’ post players then took control, as All-American Erlana Larkins scored three straight and Jessica Breland added a pair plus an and-one for 11-straight points between them for a 71-26 lead.

DeGraffenreid then contributed five consecutive tallies, including an old-fashioned three-point play, while sophomore Natalie Gramblin put in back-to-back buckets for the Terriers as UNC built its lead to 89-34 with 7:14 showing on the clock.

Sophomore Kelly Dwyer scored her first points of the afternoon on a 10-foot jumper off an in-bounds play and freshman Ashley Kroker added a triple at 4:40 to match the Tar Heels’ effort over the last two-and-a-half minutes, making the score 93-39 with 3:47 to play.

Wofford played underclassmen much of the second half, as did North Carolina after substituting for the starters.

Gramblin led the Terriers with seven points, while Dempsey, Nichols and Depko added six apiece. Williams hauled in a team-high seven boards, including six on the offensive glass.

DeGraffenreid paced the Tar Heels with a game-high 17 points, as she was one of five players to reach double figures. Gray finished with 12, while McCants added 11 and Lucas and Larkins contributed 10 each.

Breland led all players with 13 boards, but Wofford won the turnover battle, 31-29.

The Terriers will return to action at 6 p.m. Saturday when they resume Southern Conference play against UNC Greensboro inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena in Spartanburg, S.C.