After limping to a 1-1 start this season–a record earned through a pair of close finishes–the UNC women’s basketball team clamped down defensively on the way to a 79-46 blowout win at Carmichael Arena over the Radford Highlanders.

A dominating defensive effort saw UNC  hold Radford to just 25 percent shooting from the floor and force the visitors into 22 turnovers.

The Highlanders (1-1)–who were picked before the year to win the Big South Conference–got a team-high 12 points from Destinee Walker. As a team, however, they suffered through a stretch of over 11 minutes during the first half without scoring a single basket.

By halftime, UNC (2-1) had already built a comfortable 31-17 lead.

Freshman sensation Janelle Bailey led the Tar Heel offensive effort from her position in the frontcourt, making eight of her 10 shots on the way to 19 points and 10 rebounds–her first career double-double.

UNC also received 18 points from guard Paris Kea, who came into the night as the ACC’s leading scorer. Kea’s teammate in the backcourt–senior Jamie Cherry–added 10 points, six assists and four steals.

Although the game was well out of reach by the later stages, sophomore Emily Sullivan came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Tar Heels in the fourth quarter alone.

 

UNC shot 54 percent from the floor for the game, which was their best output so far this season in that category.

Up Next:

The Tar Heels will play again on Sunday, when South Alabama visits Carmichael Arena. That game is set to tip-off at 3 p.m.

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

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