CANCUN – The No. 11 Carolina women’s basketball team rolled over Arkansas State in the first game of the three-day Cancun Challenge, 93-60.

Freshman sensation Diamond DeShields led the way for the Tar Heels with 24 points off the bench. Sophomore forward Xylina McDaniel added 16 points, making both of her three-point attempts and six of seven shots from the floor.

The outcome was never really in doubt: UNC jumped out to a big lead early and cruised from there, taking a 50-21 lead into halftime and dominating through the second half. Arkansas State did outrebound the Heels 43-38 (including a 22-5 edge on the offensive glass), but the Red Wolves only shot 26 percent from the floor, compared to more than 60 percent for Carolina.

Head coach Sylvia Hatchell did not make the trip–she’s still taking time off from her head coaching duties as she continues her battle with leukemia–but she was able to speak to the players before the game on Thursday.

Coach Hatchell also wrote a touching Thanksgiving Day message on GoHeels.com. Read it here.

With the win–the team’s fourth in a row–Carolina moves to 5-1 on the season. The Heels have a quick turnaround in a busy weekend: they’ll be back on the court on Friday at 1:00 p.m. to face Arizona State. The Sun Devils are 4-1 after dispatching Illinois 84-60 in Cancun, also on Thanksgiving Day.

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