The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

Women's Hoops to Play in Smith Center

Averaging 13.3 points and 8 rebounds, the guard helped the North Carolina women's basketball team claim third place in the eight-team tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii this weekend.

North Carolina women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell said she expects the freshman, who recently was named ACC player of the week, to be a force in tonight's game against Appalachian State.

"She's moved into the starting lineup," Hatchell said. "She didn't start over there for the first two games but she started against Hawaii and played really well."

Tonight's game is the first of three consecutive home games that the Tar Heels will play during the next two weeks.

Only this home game won't really seem like one to the No. 16 Tar Heels, who will play at a different on-campus venue due to a conflict in scheduling.

Because the North Carolina volleyball team will open the NCAA Tournament against Winthrop at Carmichael Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, the women's basketball team will face off at the Smith Center at the same time.

"It's a tremendous facility," Hatchell said. "It's like a neutral court to us because we don't practice over there. We don't practice there on a consistent basis, so it's like playing away almost."

However, Hatchell added that playing in the Smith Center has its perks, for instance it facilitates recruiting.

She also said it's a good opportunity for the team to draw a larger attendance.

"A lot of other teams in the country not as good as we are the play in an arena that size," she said. "I think it has good potential to put people in the stands especially with the level of a team that we have."

UNC does not have any other games scheduled for the Smith Center this season.

The Tar Heels are 11-8 all-time at the facility and last played there in 2002, when they lost to N.C. State on Jan. 10.

After last weekend's tournament play, the Tar Heels improved to 4-1 on the season.

North Carolina arrived back in Chapel Hill Tuesday evening following an eight-day trip to Hawaii.

Senior guard Coretta Brown and junior center Candace Sutton earned all-tournament honors in the Rainbow Wahine Classic.

Appalachian State is 1-3 on the season following an 88-59 loss Sunday at Wake Forest.

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.