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North Carolina

WBB: UNC wins preseason WNIT convincingly over Iowa

Nov 19, 2012

Iowa City, Iowa — Tierra Ruffin-Pratt scored a game-high 22 points, Xylina McDaniel had her second double-double in four games and North Carolina won the Preseason WNIT for the second time, beating Iowa in convincing fashion, 77-64, Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

McDaniel finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds and her three-point play with 3:24 to go snuffed out Iowa's final threat of the day. Iowa (3-1) was led by Morgan Johnson, who finished with 20 points and 11 boards.

Ruffin-Pratt's three-quarter-court bank shot to beat the halftime buzzer capped a dominant 20 minutes for the Tar Heels. The Hawkeyes led 8-5 after five minutes but an 18-5 run by Carolina put the visitors ahead to stay.

UNC (4-0) was 18 of 36 from the field and 7 of 14 from beyond the arc in the first half, an impressive output from a team that shot just 37 percent in its first three games and came in averaging 65 points per contest.

The Hawkeyes outscored Carolina 39-30 in the second half but never got closer than 12 points.
Krista Gross added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Waltiea Rolle chipped in 11 points, five boards and three blocks. The Tar Heels won the rebounding battle 45-43 and forced 25 Iowa turnovers.

Ruffin-Pratt was named the tournament's most valuable player, while McDaniel also earned all-tournament team honors.

Carolina will have five days before taking the court on consecutive days next weekend. The Tar Heels host La Salle Nov. 24 at noon and then welcome UNC Asheville Nov. 25 at 2 p.m.