Spearman helps lead Miami women to 60-59 win over North Carolina in ACC Tournament

Mar 7, 2024, 11:04 pm

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- — Lazaria Spearman had 12 points and 10 rebounds and scored the go-ahead points as ninth-seeded Miami erased a 14-point deficit to beat eighth-seeded North Carolina 60-59 on Thursday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.

The Hurricanes (19-11) will play top seed and No. 11-ranked Virginia Tech in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Shayeann Day-Wilson scored 13 points with five assists, Latasha Lattimore had 12 points and Ja’Leah Williams 11, including three 3-pointers for Miami.

Deja Kelly scored 15 points, though on just 6-of-20 shooting, and grabbed nine rebounds for the Tar Heels (19-12). Alyssa Ustby also scored 15 points and Lexi Donarski added 12.

Spearman scored on consecutive follows during a 10-0 run to give Miami the lead with 2:40 to go — its first lead since the opening minutes. Lattimore added a three-point play during which Spearman was called for an intentional foul for unnecessary contact. Donarski converted the awarded free throws and Kelly got the Tar Heels within a point on a drive with 1:54 left.

Neither team scored again, both turning the ball over twice, Spearman missing two free throws and Kelly missing two shots, including a final one in traffic that didn’t reach the rim at the buzzer.

Trailing by seven at halftime, Miami used a 9-1 run midway through the third quarter to catch the Tar Heels before Kelly's bucket in the last minute gave UNC a 47-45 edge heading into the fourth quarter that the Tar Heels extended to six with eight minutes to go.

After shooting 50% in the first half, UNC finished at 36%, the same as the Hurricanes. Miami outrebounded the Tar Heels 41-32, including 13-7 edge on the offensive glass for a 16-5 advantage on second-chance points. The Miami bench outscored UNC's 15-3.

UNC led 37-30 at halftime behind 11 points and eight rebounds from Kelly. The Tar Heels led 20-13 after one quarter and then used an 11-2 run early in the second to extend its lead to 14. Williams took an inbounds pass with 5.5 seconds remaining and nearly fell dribbling through defenders before heaving a near-halfcourt shot that went in to get Miami within seven.

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