UNC women's basketball snaps seven-game losing streak

For the second time this season, the North Carolina women's basketball team had to play without Coach Sylvia Hatchell.

But this time, UNC was not deterred by her absence.

Despite being without Hatchell — who had to serve an NCAA suspension for a Level III rules violation — the Tar Heels (13-12, 3-7 ACC) snapped their seven-game losing streak with an 86-78 win over Boston College (13-10, 1-9 ACC) in Conte Forum on Sunday.

Redshirt junior forward Hillary Summers displayed her scoring prowess early on, scoring 12 points and snagging five rebounds to propel the Tar Heels to a 22-18 lead by the end of the first quarter.

But at the onset of the second period, the Tar Heels squandered their lead after allowing a 9-0 Eagles run in the first four minutes.

North Carolina struggled to contain Boston College senior guard Nicole Boudreau — whose 20 points in the first half led all players — as the Eagles claimed a six-point lead heading into the half.

But unlike previous games, North Carolina came alive in the second half.

UNC patiently broke down Boston College's edge in the third period. And a free throw by sophomore Jamie Cherry gave the Tar Heels a one-point lead with two minutes to play in the third quarter.

Then Boudreau swished another 3-pointer — her eighth of the game — to return the lead to the Eagles.

But that would be the last basket she would score.

UNC held Boudreau scoreless in the fourth quarter and continued to chip away at Boston College's lead. With just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, first-year guard Destinee Walker hit a 3-pointer to reclaim the lead. Cherry followed her with a quick layup to extend the lead to three.

From there, North Carolina soared above the Eagles, holding the lead for the rest of the game for its first win in exactly a month.

Quotable

“That was kind of our motivation was the fact that (Hatchell) couldn’t be there. So we really wanted to play this game for her. ... We definitely kept (Hatchell) in mind.” – Summers on playing without her head coach.

Notable

Summers scored a career-high 23 points, shoting 11-of-12 from the field and falling one rebound shy of posting a double-double.

Three numbers that matter

20: The Tar Heels converted 12 Boston College turnovers into 20 points.

5: All five of North Carolina's starters scored in double-figures.

66.7: After posting a 42.9 percent mark in the first half, the UNC shot 66.7 percent in the second half.

What’s next?

North Carolina will host Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Carmichael Arena.

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