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Feb. 29, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Virginia closed out the regular season with a 70-64 loss at #11 North Carolina on Sunday.
“I told my team that we played hard enough to win today, but not skilled enough to win,” said Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan.
Virginia fell to 13-15 overall and 6-10 in the ACC, while the Tar Heels improved to 22-5 overall and 12-4 in the league.
In the first half, the teams battled until the ten-minute mark, when UVa went on a 13-2 run to take a 28-19 lead with 6:20 to go in the half. The Cavaliers led by three at the break, 34-31.
In the second half, the Tar Heels came out of the locker room on fire, utilizing a 9-0 run to reclaim the lead for good. The Cavaliers came within one point twice, but couldn’t get over the hump.
“We couldn’t overcome the run to open the second half,” Ryan added. “That was a critical part of the game.”
“Whenever you play North Carolina, you know it’s going to be a close game,” said junior Brandi Teamer (Joliet, Ill.).
Teamer paced UVa with 17 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Junior LaTonya Blue (Baltimore, Md.) added 14 points, while junior Jocelyn Logan-Friend (Cheverly, Md.) added 12 points and a game-high three blocks.
“I’d like to believe sooner or later they’d fall,” Teamer said of missed buckets, “but today, sooner and later never came.”
Candace Sutton and Camille Little led Carolina with 16 points each, while Ivory Latta added 15 points.
Overall, UNC out-rebounded UVa, 45-34.
Virginia awaits the pairings for the 2004 ACC Tournament, which begins on Friday, March 5. The bracket will be announced following the last game on Monday evening.
“This hasn’t been the best year,” Ryan said, “but the ACC Tournament gives us new life.”
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1 2 - FinalVirginia (13-15, 6-10 ACC) 34 30 - 64North Carolina (22-5, 12-4 ACC) 31 39 - 70
– Cavaliers –