CHAPEL HILL – The No. 6 UNC women’s basketball team couldn’t bounce back from its loss to Syracuse, dropping its third ACC meeting, 83-80 to Miami Sunday afternoon.
In the early minutes, the recent loss looked to have carried over into Sunday’s matchup. The Hurricanes led by 19 with 6:22 to play in the first half. However, the Tar Heels went on a 10-0 run in the final 4:01 of the first to bring the game back to single digits.
Miami took the 42-36 lead into the locker room.
Carolina continued that run into the second half. The Heels went on a 9-2 run out of the break until the Canes halted the streak tying the game at 45 with a free throw.
It remained close until the final minutes. Miami pulled away again with :28 to play, 80-73. Scrappy defense kept Carolina in it in the final half minute with the Heels fighting for loose balls and winning the rebounding battle. The Hurricanes hit their free throws down the stretch, though, and took the 83-80 win.
Miami shot 20 points better than Carolina at 57 percent from the field; it also hit 82 percent of it foul shots compared to 52 percent from the stripe by UNC.
With the loss, North Carolina fell to 17-6, 5-3 in the ACC; Miami improved to 13-10, 5-5.
The Tar Heel women hit the road this week to face Georgia Tech on Thursday with the Duke road game just around the corner on Monday.
