The North Carolina women’s basketball team desperately needed a win Sunday afternoon. Not just because they were coming off a very disappointing loss to Syracuse earlier in the week, but also because UNC lost an integral part of its school and legacy, legendary men’s basketball head coach Dean Smith.

Coach Smith’s passing affected the entire University and reached into the women’s basketball program, as head coach Sylvia Hatchell was closely mentored by Smith.

“When I took the job at North Carolina, I had Dean Smith’s old office. They had moved to the Smith Center and I moved into Dean Smith’s old office. And I was nine years old when he became the head coach at UNC. Everything I did as a coach – even when I was at Francis Marion – was like, ‘OK if the North Carolina men’s team is doing that, then I’m going to try to do that.’ But he’s the reason why I wanted to go coach at North Carolina.”

It is now safe to say the Hall of Fame women’s coach is another thing UNC has to thank Dean Smith for. And Hatchell repaid him in Blacksburg, Virginia with a blowout 74-52 victory over Virginia Tech to place the Tar Heels at 19-5 and 6-4 in the ACC. The Hokies remain at the bottom of the conference with a 1-10 record and now sit at 10-14 overall.

Carolina was led in scoring by Brittany Rountree with 15 points, but was assisted on the scoreboard by a balanced effort from her teammates. Allisha Gray scored 13, freshman Jamie Cherry, in her first career start, added 11, and both Stephanie Mavunga and Latifah Coleman finished with 10 points.

UNC biggest lead came in the second half when the Tar Heels were up by 22, after a 20-4 run quickly solidified a blowout game. Carolina also had a much-improved shooting day. Rountree’s four 3-pointers made way for UNC to finish 10-25 behind the arc.
For the Hokies, guard Samantha Hill scored 11 points and forward Taijah Campbell also added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Carolina returns to Chapel Hill to host Florida State Thursday at 7 p.m. The Seminoles have only lost one conference game and are 22-2 this year.

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