Kea hits 1,500-point mark as UNC women's basketball defeats Boston College, 93-78

North Carolina women’s basketball handily defeated Boston College on Thursday night, 93-78. 

The Tar Heels (17-11, 8-6 ACC) played extremely well on offense, shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from 3-point territory, despite being down one of their best players in Stephanie Watts, who suffered a knee injury last week and could not suit up. 

But the victory was impressive because it was highlighted by four Tar Heels hitting career marks.

The first came in the opening quarter, as redshirt senior Paris Kea recorded her 1,500th point in just three years as a Tar Heel. She passed that mark just as her 25-point day, on 10-17 shooting, began. 

“It feels good," Kea said after the game. "I didn’t know I was that close so thanks for telling me. You know, a lot of greats have come through (UNC), and to be a part of that, it feels great.”

The second personal record was set early in the fourth quarter by sophomore Janelle Bailey, who recorded a career-high 31 points. Her dominant performance included a 24-point effort in the first half on 10 of 13 shooting. 

The scoring outburst against the Eagles was Bailey’s third time totaling 30-plus points in her young career. Adding seven boards, three assists, a block and two steals by the game's end, she had an all-around stat-stuffing game. 

“I didn’t realize how good of a half I was having," Bailey said. "Everything was going for me. Some stuff I didn’t even think was going in and it did so it was just one of those nights for me.”

Only in her second season at UNC, head coach Sylvia Hatchell said Bailey has already come a long way. The center is averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game this season, while consistently leading the team's offensive efforts along with Kea.

“She’s grown and matured," Hatchell said, "and she’s so much more polished even this year.” 

The third record of the night was set late in the fourth quarter when Taylor Koenen brought down her 15th rebound of the game. That easily surpassed her previous career high of 12.

Koenen also recorded her eighth career double-double, scoring 11 points while dishing out five assists. 

“Taylor, I call her our Dirk player," Hatchell said. "I even call her LB for Larry Bird because she can do a lot of things out there. Not real flashy but she helps us win and is really solid."

Speaking of the Tar Heels' head coach, Hatchell had a memorable performance as well. When the final buzzer sounded, the Hall of Fame coach solidified her 750th win at UNC — part of her 1,000-plus victories in her coaching career.

The win over Boston College marked UNC's eighth victory in the conference. But much more than that, it was a game when three Tar Heels had career nights.

@andrewmontross

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com