Friday marks a new beginning for two Tar Heel women’s teams as women’s basketball begins its regular season at home against Howard at 4 p.m. and UNC women’s soccer begins the first round of competition for the NCAA title at Fetzer Field.

UNC women’s basketball is coming off of two blowout exhibition wins over Carson Newman and Wingate University. Sylvia Hatchell’s Heels will take on the Howard Bisons on Friday at 4 p.m., who finished 11-20 in last year’s season.

Coach Hatchell has seen many pros and cons from her team so far, praising freshman guard Jamie Cherry and preseason All-ACC selection sophomore Allisha Gray, after impressive scoring performances in Monday’s win over Wingate.

Allisha Gray (Courtesy of GoHeels.com)

Allisha Gray (UNC Athletics)

“These guys did a great job and everybody played – I thought a lot of people came off the bench and played well tonight,” Hatchell said. “For a freshman, Jamie just keeps getting better and better out there as she relaxes and becomes more comfortable with the game. Allisha’s got great numbers but her (three-point shot) isn’t falling like it always does, I think she’s saving that.”

Even though the Tar Heels came close to scoring triple-digits in both contests, Hatchell expects even more out of her team’s offensive power – and more points from perimeter shooting.

Coach Hatchell will lead her Tar Heel women's basketball team (WUNC)

Coach Hatchell will lead her Tar Heel women’s basketball team (WUNC)

“We’ve got a lot of really good three-point shooters, I think a lot of (the problem) is nobody’s playing a zone. And so most of our scoring is either on fast breaks or off drives.”

North Carolina will also host the No. 23 UCLA Bruins Sunday at 2 p.m. in Carmichael Arena.

After a heartbreaking 2-0 loss in the ACC Tournament semifinals to the Virginia Cavaliers, women’s soccer head coach Anson Dorrance is looking ahead to beating South Dakota State Friday, and continuing the program’s strong tradition of national championships.

“Even though we’ve been knocked out by a very good Virginia team, we think we’ll have an opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament. We’re hoping to be placed as a number two seed and we’re hoping this game will show us what we need to work on a bit, so we can continue to improve.”

In their first loss since August, Carolina now sits at a 12-3-2 record. The Tar Heels are in the running for a national title as the No. 2 seed, their eighth recorded time at the tournament spot.

South Dakota State finished atop the Summit League conference with a 10-7-2 record.

North Carolina has been in the NCAA tournament competition every year since its start in 1982. If the Tar Heels are to beat the Jackrabbits Friday, they will host the NCAA second and third round games in Chapel Hill at Fetzer Field.

The game starts at 5 p.m.

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