Clemson  “Lady Tigers” vs. North Carolina “Lady Tar Heels”

North Carolina thumps Clemson

Lucas, Breland and McCants lead Lady Tar Heels

Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, NC

Greensboro, NC – After a close first half the Lady Tar Heels from North Carolina went on a second half blitz to bury a gamed Clemson team that only trailed by two at the half. Three former McDonald’s All-American’s Italee Lucas, Jessica Breland and Rashanda McCants led the way.

With a pro North Carolina crowd filling the seats the Lady Tar Heels jumped out to a quick lead. A three-pointer by another former McDonald’s All-American Ceteria DeGarffenreid put them up 7-4.

Chay Shegog, a 6-5 freshman played big for North Carolina in the first half scoring in the paint and beasting out on the boards at both ends of the floor; she scored five points as the Lady Tar Heels opened up a 21-14 lead.

Clemson still feeling good about yesterday’s first-round upset of Georgia Tech played heads-up with North Carolina early on but you could see that they where being a little cautious, not as relaxed as they were against Georgia Tech.

Former 4SHOT Hoops All-Star and Luella H.S. star Shaniqua Pauldo who shot the ball well all day yesterday struggled today going 1 for 5; teammate Lele Hardy who also shot the ball well against Georgia Tech also struggled going 2 for 7.

The loudest Lady Tiger to roar in the first half was reserve and former 4SHOT Hoops All-Star and Stephenson H.S. star Kristyn Wright. Wright picked up right where she left off yesterday as she drained a pair of three-pointers; her second three gave Clemson a 29-28 lead.

Clemson didn’t have any answers for Breland and McCants, both scored with time running down in the half to give North Carolina a 31-29 lead heading into the half.

Former 4SHOT Hoops “Freshman of the Year” Laura Broomfield made a brief appearance for North Carolina in the first half, she failed to score and grabbed one rebound. Broomfield now a 6-1 freshman attended Riverdale H.S. in Riverdale, GA before moving to Maryland where as a senior she was named the Southern Maryland “Player of the Year”.

I’m not sure what North Carolina Head Coach Syliva Hatchell said to her team at the half but they came out and jumped all over Clemson. First Breland hit a jumper, then it was McCants’s turn, then Breland again, then McCants and just like that the Lady Tar Heels had increased their lead from one to ten, 41-31.

While Breland and McCants were providing the scoring Lucas, at 5-8 was hitting the glass, she would end the day with a game high 11 rebounds on her way to a double double (10pts, 11 rebs).

Clemson continued to play hard but there shots weren’t falling and they were getting hammered on the glass and against a team the caliber of North Carolina that just spells disaster.

Coach Hatchell started substituting and giving her starters some rest as they went on to a convincing 19- point win. The Lady Tar Heels now move into one of the two semifinal games on Saturday.

The Final Score:

North Carolina 74 – Clemson 55

Box Score