North Carolina women knock off No. 25 South Florida, 71-69
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Stephanie Watts scored 24 points and the North Carolina women handed No. 17 South Florida its second straight loss at the Paradise Jam, 71-69 on Friday.
The Tar Heels backed up a Thanksgiving Day beat down of UCLA, 83-49 in the opener, and avenged a stinging loss to South Florida the 2016 Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas, 83-55. Watts is one of four members of the UNC rotation to have played in that loss.
Shayla Bennett hit a jumper with 5:36 remaining to give UNC a 12-point lead, 67-55, but Beatriz Jordao scored at the basket, on a jumper and from the free-throw line to help the Bulls eat into that deficit. Sydni Harvey's layup with 1:11 left cut it to five, 70-65, and Elisa Pinzan hit from deep to make it 71-68 with :09 left. Laura Ferreira added a free throw but the Tar Heels forced a turnover on the Bulls' final possession.
Watts hit 9 of 14 from the field, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc. Paris Kea and Janelle Bailey each added 14 points.
South Florida, which lost to Kentucky 85-63, got 22 points from Ferreira and 18 more from Jordao. Harvey added 17 points.
UNC faces Kentucky on Saturday while South Florida plays UCLA.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Barb Smith
- Fatou Cissoko-Stephens
- Tommi Paris
2023-24 American Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
North Texas | 13-5 | - | 23-9 |
Tulsa | 13-5 | - | 25-10 |
Temple | 13-5 | - | 20-12 |
South Florida | 10-8 | 3 | 19-14 |
UTSA | 10-8 | 3 | 18-15 |
East Carolina | 9-9 | 4 | 19-14 |
UAB | 9-9 | 4 | 18-14 |
Rice | 9-9 | 4 | 19-15 |
Charlotte | 9-9 | 4 | 16-15 |
Memphis | 9-9 | 4 | 13-17 |
SMU | 8-10 | 5 | 14-16 |
Florida Atlantic | 6-12 | 7 | 11-19 |
Wichita State | 5-13 | 8 | 10-22 |
Tulane | 3-15 | 10 | 12-20 |
2023-24 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Virginia Tech | 14-4 | - | 25-8 |
NC State | 13-5 | 1 | 31-7 |
Notre Dame | 13-5 | 1 | 28-7 |
Syracuse | 13-5 | 1 | 24-8 |
Louisville | 12-6 | 2 | 24-10 |
Florida State | 12-6 | 2 | 23-11 |
Duke | 11-7 | 3 | 22-12 |
North Carolina | 11-7 | 3 | 20-13 |
Miami | 8-10 | 6 | 19-12 |
Georgia Tech | 7-11 | 7 | 17-16 |
Virginia | 7-11 | 7 | 16-16 |
Boston College | 5-13 | 9 | 14-19 |
Clemson | 5-13 | 9 | 12-19 |
Pittsburgh | 2-16 | 12 | 8-24 |
Wake Forest | 2-16 | 12 | 7-25 |