The University of North Carolina women’s basketball team again lost a game due to struggles in the second quarter as Notre Dame picked up a 77-55 win in Carmichael Arena.

Much like the team’s loss to Duke 10 days ago, the Tar Heels worked their way out of contention with an abysmal showing in the second quarter – in which today’s loss saw only six points for UNC.

The Tar Heels (12-8, 1-6 ACC) were forced to take an early time out with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter as the No. 6 Notre Dame (18-3, 6-1 ACC) jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead.

It appeared as though Sylvia Hatchell’s timeout slowed down the pace, as the Fighting Irish and Tar Heels battled it out the rest of the first quarter.

Redshirt sophomore Paris Kea had a monster start, as the guard scored six of UNC’s first eight points. At the end of the quarter, Kea had tallied 15 points and North Carolina trailed by only three points, with a 24-21 score.

Battling with a small lineup and youth, as Hatchell had two first-year players in the starting lineup, the dynamic of the game quickly changed as the Fighting Irish bulldozed past the Tar Heels, scoring 22 points in the second quarter.

At halftime, North Carolina trailed 47-27.

Though North Carolina won the third period, 18-16, and closely trailed Notre Dame in the fourth period, 14-10, the damage had already been done before halftime.

Sophomore Stephanie Watts said the team’s problem in the second quarter, which cost them the game, was in transition.

Hatchell added that her team also took some bad shots during that time.

“The second quarter, if we could just eliminate that… If you take that away, it’s a five-point game,” Hatchell said. “Again, Paris had a great game and continues to be outstanding for us. Stephanie, the first half she struggled some, but then she got going in the second half.”

Kea scored 17 of her team-leading 21 points in the first half, providing UNC much of its offense.

Watts was quiet in the first half, scoring only one point. The guard added 13 more points in the second half to make it the 18th time in 20 games that she has scored in double figures.

Notre Dame’s forward Brianna Turner scored 24 points and added 12 rebounds.

Watts said despite the loss, the team remains hopeful moving forward.

“Of course we want to win, but I think we realize that we’re right on the borderline,” she said. “They’re a great team and we played them pretty even three out of four quarters. It’s just that second quarter that gets us down a lot. Overall, I think we’re pretty hopeful in what we see from the team.”

North Carolina next plays Miami on Thursday at seven o’clock in Coral Gables, Florida.

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