Senior forward Xylina McDaniel watched first-year guard Destinee Walker’s last-second 3-point heave sail through the air and clang off the rim.
The North Carolina women’s basketball team had lost another close game, this time 66-63 at the hands of the Pacific Tigers on Wednesday in Carmichael Arena, snapping UNC’s four-game winning streak.
McDaniel, who played in her fourth game since sustaining a preseason calf injury, came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points and grab nine rebounds in 23 minutes of playing time.
Despite her performance, McDaniel said she knows she is not yet completely back to playing shape and can still play better.
“There were a couple of times that I was pretty tired out there, so I’m still working on getting my conditioning back up,” she said. “There were a few times where I didn’t go in for the rebound, so I have to become more consistent with that.”
McDaniel said she knows she can contribute to the team more once she fully returns to playing shape. Coach Sylvia Hatchell said the team was very close to winning in its three losses, which were decided by a combined six points. She said the return of McDaniel to full form will help the Tar Heels get over the hump and win close games.
“We could have won all those (games). We could have easily been 7-0,” Hatchell said. “I’m hoping to get (McDaniel) out there stronger and better — get her a little bit more mobile where she can contribute and help us even more.”
The Tigers finished the game with one more rebound than North Carolina and 24 bench points, eight more than the Tar Heels. McDaniel accounted for all 16 of the UNC’s bench points. North Carolina, depleted because of injuries and transfers, managed to play only seven players, while Pacific had eight players score and 10 play.
Still, Hatchell said fatigue was not a factor down the stretch when the game was close, saying the Tar Heels played well during a stretch earlier in the season of three games in three days.
