Colleges

No. 2 UNC gets bit of revenge in routing FSU

North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell didn't let many opportunities pass in recent days to give her team a history lesson about the last trip to Florida State.

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published February 13, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell didn't let many opportunities pass in recent days to give her team a history lesson about the last trip to Florida State.

"Seniors, remember ya'll lost down there, right?" she would ask.

"Yeah, coach," senior guard Ivory Latta said. "We'll try to not let it happen again."

With extra motivation to avenge an upset in 2005 as well as bouncing back from their first loss of the year, the No. 2 Tar Heels overwhelmed the Seminoles 80-59 on Monday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

"They're a great basketball team," FSU coach Sue Semrau said of the Tar Heels 25-1, 9-1 ACC. "They use their athleticism very, very well. We hadn't seen a team like that all year, some who would press the entire game, use their length, use their quickness."

Latta scored 21 to lead the Tar Heels.

"Coming off a loss, we were very emotional, and coach got us fired up for this game," Latta said. "We needed this win."

The Seminoles (18-7, 7-3) looked tentative, if not intimidated, for much of the first half, falling behind by 20 points 15 minutes in and never getting closer than 10 the rest of the way. They shot a season-low 30.4 percent, scored their fewest points and had 23 turnovers.

Hatchell praised the Seminoles' athleticism as well (UNC had 28 turnovers and was outrebounded) and called them a sure NCAA Tournament team. The Seminoles will have a chance to prove that Thursday when No. 6 and defending national champion Maryland comes to town.

NO. 14 OKLAHOMA 78, TEXAS 58: Courtney Paris had 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Sooners (19-4, 9-3 Big 12), and freshmen Jenna Plumley and Amanda Thompson provided a spark in their first career starts.

Plumley had 11 points and a career-high eight assists and Thompson had 10 points and eight rebounds as the Sooners used a 27-3 surge at the end of the first half to win for just the second time in their past five games.

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL: Duke was unanimous at No. 1, receiving all 49 first-place votes. The Blue Devils (26-0) are the only unbeaten team in Division I.

[Last modified February 13, 2007, 00:15:13]