Hatchell, Heels get best of Patriots

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Fifth-ranked North Carolina used a 21-0 run midway through the first half to break open a close game and the Tar Heels cruised to a 105-64 exhibition win over Francis Marion on Thursday in women’s college basketball action.

Leading 23-14, UNC scored 21 consecutive points to go up 44-14 en route to a 54-21 halftime advantage. FMU was facing former Patriot head coach Sylvia Hatchell, who during her 11 seasons in Florence guided the Patriots to a pair of national championships.

“This was a great opportunity for us, and a good experience to play against a Division I, top-5 team,” FMU coach Heather Macy said. “I can’t say enough about how much Sylvia Hatchell has helped our program.”

Junior honorable mention All-American Shannon Singleton-Bates led the Patriots with 28 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Eboni Fields added 16 points, including four three-pointers.

Highly-touted freshman Tierra Ruffin-Pratt led the Tar Heels with 18 points and seven rebounds while guard Cetera DeGraffenreid recorded 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.

The taller Tar Heels held a 68-41 advantage in rebounding. UNC forced 34 FMU turnovers which were converted into 29 points. Conversely, Francis Marion scored 22 points off 26 Tar Heel miscues.

UNC shot 48.2 percent from the field, including 2-of-10 from three-point range, and made 21 of 38 free throws. The Patriots shot 31.6 percent from the field, including 6-of-30 from beyond the arc and made 8-of-16 free throws.

“I love the fact that we got off 79 shots tonight,” Macy said. “We played the tempo we wanted, we just didn’t connect on enough of those attempts. I thought we competed hard for 40 minutes.”

Francis Marion will play a second exhibition game at Winthrop University on Saturday at 7 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA 105, FRANCIS MARION 64
Francis Marion
Singleton-Bates, Sha 10-21 8-13 28; Fields, Eboni 6-18 0-0 16; Mealing, Nicole 3-9 0-0 8; Colbert, Robin 2-6 0-0 4; Coleman, Dawn 2-7 0-0 4; Franks, Shana 1-6 0-0 2; Downs, Danelle 1-3 0-2 2; Mealing, Courtney 0-2 0-0 0; Imani, Ana 0-1 0-0 0; Wilson, Tiffany 0-0 0-0 0; Dickerson, Kristen 0-0 0-0 0; Trice, Simone 0-1 0-0 0; Tucker, Precious 0-5 0-1 0. Totals 25-79 8-16 64.
North Carolina
Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 6-13 4-4 18; DeGraffenreid, C. 7-10 3-6 17; Lucas, Italee 6-11 2-2 14; Broomfield, Laura 4-7 3-4 11; White, She'la 5-11 0-0 10; Shegog, Chay 4-6 1-2 9; Wood, Martina 2-2 4-5 8; Gross, Krista 3-5 2-4 8; Williams, Nyree 2-3 1-5 5; Rolle, Waltiea 1-3 1-4 3; Robertson-Warren, C. 1-4 0-2 2; Powell, Nicole 0-1 0-0 0; Bursey, Trinity 0-9 0-0 0. Totals 41-85 21-38 105.
Halftime: UNC 54 Francis Marion 21
3-point goals--Francis Marion 6-30 (Fields, Eboni 4-14; Mealing, Nicole 2-6; Coleman, Dawn 0-4; Franks, Shana 0-3; Trice, Simone 0-1; Singleton-Bates, Sha 0-2), North Carolina 2-10 (Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 2-3; Lucas, Italee 0-2; White, She'la 0-2; Gross, Krista 0-1; Bursey, Trinity 0-2). Fouled out--Francis Marion-None, North Carolina-None. Rebounds--Francis Marion 41 (Singleton-Bates, Sha 8), North Carolina 68 (Wood, Martina 8; Rolle, Waltiea 8). Assists--Francis Marion 11 (Colbert, Robin 4), North Carolina 18 (DeGraffenreid, C. 5). Total fouls--Francis Marion 26, North Carolina 18. Technical fouls--None. A-1,455