Before the season began, North Carolina basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell was faced with a dilemma.
She knew two of her key veterans — Tierra Ruffin-Pratt and Waltiea Rolle — would be out of commission until at least December, and the coach wasn’t quite sure whether to redshirt them or to allow them to try to work their way back.
Hatchell chose the latter option, and she’s glad she did.
Though both players have faced their fair share of hurdles along the comeback trail, they each played an indispensable role in UNC’s 68-59 victory against N.C. State on Sunday.
“Both of them are great kids, and they just worked hard,” Hatchell said. “I couldn’t have asked for them to have had any better attitudes then they’ve had, so it was fun to see Waltiea be successful out there tonight and for Pratt to have her career high.”
Ruffin-Pratt led all scorers with a career-best 23 points and also pulled down 11 boards, while Rolle stepped in at center and scored 12 points with center Chay Shegog — the team’s leading scorer — in foul trouble.
For Ruffin-Pratt, the game marked a return to form after averaging just 4.8 points per game during the Tar Heel’s last five contests, a 2-3 stretch.
Ruffin-Pratt’s shooting has been inconsistent since returning from shoulder surgery in January. But of late, the junior guard has put in significant time in the gym.
Hatchell estimated that Ruffin-Pratt has taken 1,000 shots a week as she’s tried to get her feel back.