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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC women's basketball tramples Marshall behind second-quarter run

The North Carolina women’s basketball team defeated Marshall, 75-53, on Wednesday at Carmichael Arena for its fourth straight win this season.

What happened?

Though the home team was clearly better than its opponent, the first quarter was evenly matched as the Tar Heels and the Thundering Herd fought to find an offensive rhythm. Both teams struggled with low field-goal percentages in the opening minutes hovering around 35 percent from the field. North Carolina (8-1), led by six first-quarter points from guard Jamie Cherry, handed over six turnovers to Marshall (5-3) and dug a 20-16 hole headed into the second quarter.

But the UNC offense took control simply by cutting down on mistakes. The Tar Heels got on a run early and outscored the Thundering Herd 25-7 in the quarter to create a healthy cushion.

North Carolina commanded a double-digit lead the rest of the way. By the end of the game, the Tar Heels controlled every category on the stat sheet except rebounds, where Marshall held a one-rebound edge.

Who stood out?

As usual, the offensive game plan in Wednesday’s match ran through guard Jamie Cherry. Cherry led the scoring effort for her team with a game-high 19 points.

Destinee Walker wasn’t far behind Cherry and was the team’s top shooter in Wednesday’s game, shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. She finished the game with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc.

Stephanie Watts' play is also worth noting, though it marked the end of her impressive scoring streak. Before Wednesday’s game, Watts had scored at least 10 points in 17 straight games. Though her streak came to an end, she finished with 10 rebounds and nine points, falling one free throw shy of earning her fifth double-double this season and keeping the scoring streak alive.

When was it decided?

Though there was an opportunity for Marshall to come back, the game was already well within control of North Carolina by the second quarter. The Tar Heels' second-quarter run allowed them to take the lead for good, and once their offense clicked they steamrolled the rest of the way.

Why does it matter?

The win on Wednesday was the fourth straight win for Sylvia Hatchell’s team. UNC has jumped out to an 8-1 start this year, its best start since the team started 14-1 in the 2014-15 season. The early success of the should bode well for North Carolina's confidence as the season progresses, as the team already looks stronger than it did a year ago.

Where do they play next?

The Tar Heels will head to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to play LSU in the Crescom Bank Holiday Invitational at 3 p.m. on Dec. 18.

@_JACKF54_

sports@dailytarheel.com

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