Box Score      North Carolina Central at No. 24 North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – In the final contest of the calendar year, the North Carolina Central University women’s basketball team suffered a 79-42 loss to No. 24 North Carolina on Friday, Dec. 30 in Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.

In the loss, junior Chasidy Williams led in three categories with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals.  Freshman Kabrina Truesdale collected 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals on the night, while sophomore Tiffany Gary blocked three Tar Heel shots.  Williams and Truesdale lobbed two assists each.

UNC opened the contest going on a 14-0 run, until senior Blaire Houston netted the first Lady Eagle basket in the paint at the 13:40 mark.

NCCU hit an 8-4 run off of four points by Truesdale and two individual field goals from freshman Montreshia Perry and Houston, bringing the mighty maroon within eight points at the 9:24 mark. 

By the 7:25 mark, North Carolina regained a double-figure margin lead with 13 points off a 7-2 run for a score of 25-12.

After 20 minutes of play, UNC lead by 22 points for a score of 43-21.  Williams guided NCCU with seven points and six rebounds in the first-half of competition.

North Carolina continued its dominance in the second-half of play, with a margin-high 40 points at the 5:10 mark, 71-31.

Over the last five minutes of the night, NCCU hit an 11-8 run for a final score of 79-42.

On the night, the maroon and gray was 30 percent from the field on 15-of-50 shooting, 2-of-6 from behind the arc, and 59 percent from the charity stripe, 10-of-17. 

Three Tar Heels scored in double-figures to seal the victory.  Krista Gross finished with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Chay Shegog scored a team-high 20 points.  Brittany Rountree, who was 3-of-5 from the long range, finished with 11 points.  Shegog also led the squad with six assists and five blocks, as Gross stole six possessions. 

UNC was 48 percent from the field on 31-of-65, 3-of-14 from the long range, and 67 percent from the free-throw line, 14-of-21.

NCCU drops to 2-12 on the season, as No. 24 North Carolina advances to 10-2 and progresses to 5-0 in the series.

The Lady Eagles will celebrate the New Year before leaping into Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play for the remainder of the season, beginning with home matchup against Florida A&M on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 2:00 p.m. in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

For more information on Lady Eagles basketball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.