Virginia had the No. 10 Tar Heels exactly where they wanted them -- until the last 20 seconds of the game.
After keeping UNC's star freshman Ivory Latta under wraps for almost the entire game, the Virginia defense allowed her to score 10 crucial points in the last six minutes. In addition to two consecutive three-pointers, she had the final steal and lay-up with eight seconds to go that put the exclamation mark on the Tar Heel win.
"She buried threes at the end of the game," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "And that buried us. We have no excuses, we just broke down."
The breakdown not only allowed Latta's run, but changed the entire tone of the game. In the last 20 seconds, the Cavaliers were a different team. They miscommunicated, left their players unmarked and allowed Latta that crucial steal.
"We were right there, ready to win the game," senior guard Anna Prillaman said. "It's devastating to lose to UNC at home."
While Carolina maintained a lead for almost the entire first half, Virginia pulled through at the end of the half with a 10-0 run to gain the lead by two.
Despite only controlling the lead for 17 seconds, Virginia led statistically almost all across the board. They out-rebounded the Tar Heels 22-14 in addition to scoring more second-chance points, more points off turnovers, and more points in the paint.
The entire Virginia team seemed to be taking equal stock in this game. Twenty-six of their 30 first-half points were scored off the bench. Freshman center Siedah Williams was one of the key bench players with 10 points and two rebounds. She stayed on her game throughout the second half, finishing with 18 points.
Junior forward Brandi Teamer came back from an absence to become the 21st Virginia women's basketball player to score 1,000 points in her career.
Coming out of halftime, it looked like the Cavaliers had advantage. With an enthusiastic home crowd behind them, Virginia maintained their hot hand early in the second half. Junior forward Kate Kreager sunk Virginia's first three-pointer of the game in the first 20 seconds after halftime.
North Carolina, however, improved on their weaknesses after the break -- especially rebounding, pulling down eight offensive rebounds after the break.
"Rebounding is a big key," Carolina sophomore forward La'Tangela Atkinson said. "If you rebound, you'll win the game."
The Tar Heels also utilized the combination of explosive freshman Ivory Latta and a severe Virginia defensive breakdown in the final minutes of the game.
"We did a lot of things great," Ryan said. "But we had breakdowns at the end. It was, in my opinion, ridiculous."
The Cavaliers said they hope to put the demoralizing lose behind them as they travel to Wake Forest on Sunday in hopes of keeping their NCAA tournament chances alive.
"We don't have any momentum right now," Prillaman said. "But we can move on very easily. Every game has got to be an individual effort."
Read More
Home loss to Notre Dame adds another first to men’s basketball’s worst season in memory
By Thomas Baxter | 13 hours agoVirginia dropped a home game to Notre Dame for the first time ever.
For Leah Hayes, 'Just keep swimming' is what Virginia is all about
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoShe shatters records in the pool and is an inspiration to swimming fans and all those with alopecia.
Virginia comes back from a 20-point gap but falls short versus No. 18 Georgia Tech
By Victoria Blankenship | 2 days agoVirginia loses another ACC bout in heartbreaking fashion.
