Third quarter woes bury UNC women's basketball in 90-74 loss vs Virginia Tech

A jumper. Two free throws. Then a layup. Then back-to-back threes.

That sequence was a 12-0 run in the third quarter that would ultimately be the North Carolina women’s basketball team’s downfall, as the squad dropped its fourth ACC game in a row on Wednesday to Virginia Tech, 90-74.

It was a frustrating night for the Tar Heels (14-10, 4-7 ACC), as they were repeatedly outworked by different Virginia Tech (16-8, 5-6 ACC) players. UNC shot just 42.3 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from three, and 70 percent from the free throw line. The offense got bogged down, and usual contributors Jamie Cherry and Janelle Bailey were inefficient the entire game.

With its poor shooting night, the team needed strong defensive play. But the defensive effort was not there, as the Tar Heels failed to keep the game competitive in the second half and were outscored 56-37 in the final twenty minutes of play.

“We’ve always been known for our defense and rebounding,” head coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “You just don’t know how hard it is for me to sit over there and take it whenever we’re not rebounding and whenever we’re not playing like we’re used to.”

The two biggest foils to North Carolina were Virginia Tech guard Taylor Emery and forward Regan Magarity, who combined for 49 points. 

“(Emery) can score on the outside and she’s a really good penetrator,” Hatchell said. “We don’t have an an athlete like her — except probably Paris — but we don’t have anybody who can guard her.”

At halftime, Emery had 17 of Virginia Tech’s 34 points, and the threat of her shot pulled North Carolina’s focus towards her, opening up Magarity to go to work on the block. 

“She was posting Murray up and just scoring on her every time she wanted to,” said Hatchell. “She pretty much had her way with (the team) in the third quarter.” 

For the first half of the game, the two teams were evenly matched in a low scoring slug-match. North Carolina shot 40 percent from the floor, while Virginia Tech shot 42.9 percent. UNC headed to the break up 37-34.

It was clear that the first team to start consistently making shots would come out on top. That team was Virginia Tech. The Hokies outscored the the Tar Heels 32-15 in the third quarter, gaining a lead that could be overcome.

Cherry going 5-15 from the field and 1-8 from three didn't help. Bailey shot poorly too, going 8-19, with almost all of her attempts coming from within a few feet of the basket.

“(Cherry's) shooting has been way off, because she was 1-8 from the three,” Hatchell said. “So if Jamie’s knocking down 5-8, that’s another 12 points or so. We need Jamie knocking down her shots.” 

Paris Kea, was the only consistent Tar Heel player on offense. It was a historic night for the redshirt junior transfer, who became just the fourth player in program history to score 1,000 points in her first two seasons. But not even the team’s leading scorer could keep the game close once the offense bogged down in the third, shooting 8-17 herself. The team's inability to score in the quarter would prove to be the nail in the coffin.

“I thought this one was really one that we could get,” Hatchell said. “This was one that we needed to have. They’re all tough, and now we’ve got to go to State and play Sunday.”

@bg_keyes

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com