UNC used a 12-0 run in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead at halftime Sunday afternoon at Florida State, and the Tar Heels didn’t look back in the second half on their way to an 82-55 victory.

Elina Aarnisalo scored seven points during the run, which broke open what had been a 26-19 game and turned it into a 38-19 Carolina lead at the end of the first half. Against a smothering UNC defense, Florida State finished the half with more turnovers (nine) than made shots (six).

The defensive playmaking continued into the second half, with the Tar Heels allowing just 10 more made shots and forcing eight more turnovers. Florida State finished the day with a 28.6 (16-56) field goal percentage, the lowest allowed by UNC in five games in the month of January.

For the Carolina offense, four Tar Heels reached double figures. Lanie Grant led the way with 14 points, with all four of her made field goals coming on three-pointers. Nyla Harris (13 points) and Ciera Toomey (12) also scored in double figures, while Reniya Kelly followed up her career-best night against Miami Thursday night with 11 points Sunday. Though no Tar Heels finished with more than six rebounds, the team still commanded a 40-28 advantage on the glass. Thirteen of UNC’s rebounds came on the offensive end, which the Tar Heels turned into 20 second-chance points. Carolina also dominated points in the paint, scoring 28 to Florida State’s 12. The Tar Heels never trailed, leading more for than 39 of the game’s 40 minutes.

Sunday’s win is UNC’s second in a row following a two-game losing streak. The Tar Heels are now 15-5 overall and 4-3 in ACC play and will return to action Thursday night when they visit Georgia Tech in Atlanta at 8 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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