Southern Miss
North Carolina
Lady Eagles Fall to UNC 69-62
12/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball team suffered through bouts of cold shooting and fell to North Carolina 69-62 Sunday afternoon in the Carolinas Challenge.
The Lady Eagles dropped to 6-4 while UNC improved to 8-5. The Tar Heels connect on 10-of-12 from the line in the final 1:14.
Jerontay Clemons led Southern Miss with 18 points, Brittanny Dinkins had 17 and Jayla King chipped in 10. Caitlin Jenkins pulled down seven rebounds.
Southern Miss finished the game shooting 40.3 percent from the field.
Southern Miss scored the first four points to start the game on back-to-back baskets by Clemons on Dinkins. UNC hit the first of three three-pointers in the quarter before Clemons hit her second basket. UNC scored the next five points to take an 8-6 lead. Southern Miss then used a 16-7 run over the final five minutes for a 22-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Clemons put the Lady Eagles up 24-15 to start the quarter but UNC added a three to cut the lead to 24-18. Southern Miss added one more baskets before the Tar Heels turned in a strong finish in outscoring the Lady Eagles 11-2 over the final 2:46 in taking a 32-30 lead at the half.
The Tar Heels opened the third quarter, hitting a three-pointer before Dinkins hit a jumper in the lane to keep the margin to three. Both teams went scoreless over two minutes before King connected on a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 35-34. The teams traded basket and eventually battled to a 40-40 tie. UNC got two quick baskets off back-to-back Lady Eagle turnovers. UNC led 49-46 at the end of the quarter.
UNC ran the score to 52-46 before Southern Miss answered with a 6-0 run to tie the game at 52-52. The Tar Heels responded five-straight points. King then sparked an 8-0 that gave the Lady Eagles a 60-57 lead with 2:31 to go in the game. UNC added a basket to the cut the lead to one, then proceeded to outscore Southern Miss 10-2 over the final 2:17.
Stephanie Watts and Jamie Cherry led UNC with 17 points apiece and Destinee Walker added 14 points. Xylina McDaniel pulled down 10 rebounds.
Southern Miss will now take some time off for the Christmas Holiday before returning to action on Dec. 28 against William Carey at 6 p.m.
