North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
North Carolina
Wolfpack Edged Out By Tar Heels, 58-57
1/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - La'Tangela Atkinson scored from underneath the basket with 3.9 seconds left to give No. 13 North Carolina a 58-57 victory Thursday night over North Carolina State.
Atkinson finished with 13 points for the Tar Heels (13-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who got 20 from Camille Little. Ivory Latta added 13 points as the Tar Heels won in Reynolds Coliseum for the third straight time.
Kaayla Chones had 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead State (8-8, 0-3). Alvine Mendeng scored 13 points before fouling out with 8:02 to play.
North Carolina was down 55-49 after Chones hit a shot from the lane with 4:35 to play. Latta then hit consecutive baskets 1:18 apart and Little hit one of two free throws with 1:53 to play to tie the game at 55-55.
Candace Sutton made one of two free throws for the Tar Heels with 1:01 left, but Nanna Rivers put the Wolfpack ahead for the last time at 57-56 on two free throws with 31 seconds remaining.
The Tar Heels held the ball until Latta tried a jumper with 5 seconds to go that was rebounded by the Wolfpack's Kendra Bell. But she was called for traveling 1 second later.
North Carolina's Leah Metcalf inbounded the ball from underneath the basket to Atkinson who hit the game-winning shot.
A 3-point try by Rivers at the horn bounced off the backboard.
The Tar Heels hit just 20 of 65 shots (30.8 percent). N.C. State did little better, 21-for-58 (36.2 percent).
