February 11, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Virginia Tech women's basketball team traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the first time since 1991 to face sixth-ranked North Carolina. The Hokies played even for the first ten minutes of the game before the Tar Heels used a 13-2 run to put the contest out of reach, going on to win 93-67.

The loss drops Tech to 14-8 on the season and 3-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference competition. With the win, UNC improves to 20-3 overall and 8-2 in league play.

Four Hokies reached double figures in the game. Tech was led by Kerri Gardin's 14 points and 10 rebounds, her fifth double-double of the season. Dawn Chriss shared team-high honors, scoring 14 while adding four rebounds and three assists. Erin Gibson and Carrie Mason chipped in 12 apiece in the losing effort.

UNC was paced by Ivory Latta's game-high 19 points. LaToya Pringle added 16 while Nikita Bell had 14. Erlana Larkins and La'Tangela Atkinson chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Tar Heels connected on 38-of-71 shots from the floor for 53.5 percent. Tech hit 28-of-59 from the field for a 47.5 percent clip. The Hokies made 71.4 percent of their attempts from behind the arc, while their counterparts hit just 29.4 percent of their shots from the three-point line.

UNC out-rebounded Tech 46-28, but the Hokies combined for 17 steals in the game compared to 15 for the Tar Heels.

Gibson continued her climb in the record books tonight, moving into 15^th place on the all-time scoring list at Tech. She now has 1,044 points and is 25 away from moving into 14^th place on the career list. Gibson also pulled down her 700^th career rebound in the contest.

The Hokies return to action on Sunday when they host Virginia in Cassell Coliseum at 2 p.m.