WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CONTINUES ITS ACC TOUR AT NO. 21 NORTH CAROLINA

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RADFORD, Va. – After dropping a heart-breaking 67-65 Big South decision to Liberty, the Radford women's basketball team will look to regroup when it faces 21st-ranked North Carolina, Wednesday (Dec. 5), at 7:00 p.m. inside Carmichael Arena. The Tar Heels will be the second of three ACC foes the Highlanders have on their schedule this season.

MEET THE TAR HEELS

♦ ACC powerhouse North Carolina opened the season with seven-straight victories before stumbling at No. 16 Tennessee (102-57) on Sunday (Dec. 2).
♦ Prior to the meeting with the Lady Vols, UNC had been tenacious on the defensive end - holding opponents to just 54.3 points per game.
♦ Carolina is 414-93 all-time in Carmichael, including a 41-10 record since the building re-opened after being closed for renovations from March 2008 to December 2009. The Tar Heels have won at least 13 home games in each of the last 11 seasons, including a school-record 18 during an undefeated 2007-08 home campaign.
♦ With wins over Davidson, Duquesne, Georgetown and Iowa, Carolina won the Preseason WNIT for the second time. Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, who had 22 points in the final, was named the tournament's most valuable player. Freshman Xylina McDaniel, who had double-doubles in two of the four games, also earned all-tournament team honors. UNC also won the event in 2008 with an 80-79 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma in the final.
♦ UNC finished the 2011-12 campaign at 20-11, falling to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals (54-53). With its first-round victory over Clemson (90-51), the Tar Heels reached the 20-win mark for the 23rd time in program history. Carolina has won 20 games under Sylvia Hatchell 18 times in 26 seasons and 10 times in the last 11 campaigns.
♦ Three players average double figures for UNC, led by Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (13.3). Waltiea Rolle and Xylina McDaniel contribute 12.6 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. McDaniel ties for team-best honors in rebounding, averaging 9.9 per contest.

SERIES HISTORY

♦ The series with the Tar Heels dates back to Nov. 29, 1984 with UNC leading, 6-3. Radford last met Carolina on Dec. 8, 2009 with the 11th-ranked Tar Heels taking a 74-48 decision.

WHAT'S NEXT

♦ The Highlanders return to the Dedmon Center for a doubleheader against the William & Mary Tribe. The men's game against the CAA foe begins at 2:00 p.m. with the women's tilt set for 20 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest.

LAST TIME OUT

♦ For the second straight game, a late rally by the opposing side caused the Radford women's basketball team to fall as Liberty escaped the Dedmon Center with a 67-65 Big South nail-biting victory Saturday evening.
♦ Da'Naria Erwin Spencer led the Highlanders with a season-high 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting. She is now tied for seventh with Corrie Fertitta on the all-time career-scoring chart with 1,215 points.
♦ Ashley Buckhannon (9), Sarah Tabb (8) and Ayana Avery (8) also neared double-digit scoring.

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