Samantha Newman

Sports

Tar Heels to face LSU in Big Easy

By Samantha Newman | March 31

NEW ORLEANS - When Erlana Larkins talked with her teammates earlier this season about the possibility of playing Louisiana State in the New Orleans Regional, she was joking around. But then the brackets were announced, and it wasn't a joke anymore. Tonight, that possibility will become a reality when North Carolina takes on LSU in its home state with a trip to the Final Four on the line. It's not the Lady Tigers' home court, but UNC did see a lot of purple and gold the other day.

Sports

An Elite comeback

By Samantha Newman | March 31

Slideshow: Tar Heel women in Elite company NEW ORLEANS - As LaToya Pringle stood at the free throw line with 26 seconds left to play Saturday, the scene was all too familiar. She had worked her way to the same spot 27 seconds earlier with a chance to build on a five-point lead, only to watch both attempts clang off the rim. This trip to the line did have one difference, though. This time Louisville had cut the deficit to two.

Sports

Walk-on ready for senior night start

By Samantha Newman | February 29

Meghan Austin has walked through Carmichael Auditorium countless times during her career on the North Carolina women's basketball team. But Sunday she'll take center stage - well, center court. Austin will be honored, alongside fellow seniors LaToya Pringle and Erlana Larkins during the Tar Heels' final regular-season home game against Duke. And she's certainly worked to get there.

Sports

Bloodied, Pringle takes over in OT

By Samantha Newman | January 28

LaToya Pringle played with reckless abandon against a talented Maryland team Saturday, and she's got the marks on her uniform to prove it. After taking a hit to the face that cut her upper lip, the North Carolina senior forward had to trade out her blood-stained No. 30 jersey for a nameless No. 55. She might want to consider a permanent switch. Pringle racked up a career-high 31 points to lead the No. 3 Tar Heels past the No. 4 Terrapins, and she was UNC's go-to player in the final minutes.

Sports

Hapless second half costs UNC on road

By Samantha Newman | January 23

The North Carolina women's basketball team gave the No. 1 Connecticut Huskies their biggest scare of the season Monday night at Gampel Pavilion. The 11-point halftime deficit was the largest UConn had faced all year, and the Tar Heels weren't making many mistakes. Then things started to unravel. On the first possession of the second half, UNC turned the ball over, and the Huskies pounced to cash in with a jumper on the other end. Connecticut made runs, chipped away the lead, and UNC went into panic mode.

Sports

Top-ranked Huskies rally past Tar Heels

By Samantha Newman | January 22

STORRS, Conn. - Before the No. 3 North Carolina women's basketball team took on the top-ranked Connecticut Huskies at a sold out Gampel Pavilion, UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said the Tar Heels would have to show how they could play for 40 minutes. She was right. For the first 20 minutes, UNC played nearly flawless basketball. The Tar Heels made shots and fought for offensive boards.

Sports

Heels encounter familiar strategy

By Samantha Newman | January 17

ATLANTA - There are certain things the North Carolina men's basketball team is known for. The Tar Heels like to run, and with the powerful presence of Tyler Hansbrough, they tend to dominate inside play on both ends of the court. But when UNC hit the road to take on ACC foe Georgia Tech on Wednesday night, the Yellow Jackets were ready to give the Tar Heels a taste of their own medicine. UNC notched its first win at Alexander Memorial since 2001, but not without a fight through the final seconds from Ga. Tech.

Sports

Larkins powers UNC past 'Pack

By Samantha Newman | January 14

RALEIGH - The bandage covering Erlana Larkins' left hand resembled a small boxing glove, and the North Carolina senior certainly threw some punches Sunday afternoon at the Reynolds Coliseum. They came in the form of 22 points and eight rebounds as Larkins led her team past N.C. State 79-70 in a battle of the post. In her third game since breaking her left hand on Dec. 30, Larkins took control of the paint, banging bodies without hesitation and drawing fouls with her aggressive pushes to the basket.

Sports

McCants, UNC down Purdue

By Samantha Newman | November 30

The North Carolina women's basketball team knew it needed to keep the momentum building against Purdue during the last of a nine-game stint at home. And the No. 4 Tar Heels got what they wanted as they blew past the Boilermakers 90-72 Thursday night. UNC (9-0) will need the energy to carry through the weekend when it will face one of its toughest challenges of the season.

Sports

Early tournament exit leaves sour taste

By Samantha Newman | November 29

In time, the members of the 2007 North Carolina women's soccer team will look back at their season and think about the impressive accomplishments they achieved. They'll remember grabbing their third straight ACC Tournament title and fighting back from an early 7-3 record to streak to a 10-0-1 run midway through the season to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But for now, all the Tar Heels can feel is disappointment.