White shows progress from injury in win

Ice, stimulation, ultrasound. Twice a day, everyday.

That’s been the routine for She’la White since she suffered a severe sprain of her left ankle nearly a month ago.

Yet the senior point guard said her health is no excuse for the way she’s been shooting.

“I’ve been struggling with my shot lately,” White said. “It has nothing to do with my ankle, but it’s coming along. I’m getting in the flow of everything.”

And in Wednesday night’s 77-46 win against Boston College, White proved it.

With her ankle at about 75 percent, the senior scored 11 points in 22 minutes — two more points than she had scored in her last four games combined.

But a high point total isn’t all coach Sylvia Hatchell looks for out of her point guards.

“I don’t really even look that much at her scoring,” Hatchell said. “I look more at … those leadership type things with setting the team up and getting us into the things we need to do.

“I think the last couple of games she’s probably led the team the best she’s done all year consistently.”

As one of just three seniors on the UNC roster, White was expected to carry a heavy load for the Tar Heels this season.

But her injury and the emergence of freshman Brittany Rountree as a legitimate scoring threat have sapped her playing time of late.

The senior started 12 of the team’s first 13 games, but since she sprained her ankle Jan. 1 against Miami, she’s only started one of the last four.

Running straight and backpedaling hasn’t been an issue, White said, but cutting and sharp turns have given her problems.

Regardless, White benefits the Tar Heels with her veteran presence whenever she takes the court.

“She’s really our captain out there,” fellow senior Chay Shegog said. “She settles everybody down. She’s especially good at finding the open spot.”

But on Wednesday, White at times was the open spot, finding a home just outside the 3-point arc.

Of her 11 field-goal attempts, White took nine looks from long range, sinking three of them.

The senior seemed to brim with confidence in the 22 minutes she played, and as the jubilant UNC bench cheered on the Tar Heel reserves in the last few easy minutes, it was hard not to find a smile on White’s face.

“I’m just having fun,” White said. “At the N.C. State game I had fun. At this game I had fun. I’m not going to focus on missing my shots. That’s the last thing I have to be concerned with.

“Just go out there and play. If I got an open shot, take it.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.