UNC has gotten off to a fast start this season in women’s basketball, and the Tar Heels’ No. 7 ranking indicates they’re among the top handful of teams in the country.
Today, Sylvia Hatchell’s club will find out how good it really is.
UNC will play in one of the marquee games of the season today at 4 p.m., traveling to face No. 1 Connecticut at Gampel Pavilion in a game televised nationally on CBS.
The Tar Heels may have won eight straight games, but Geno Auriemma’s Huskies have won 53 straight and are of course the defending NCAA champions.
“I don’t think anybody gives us a chance to win but us,” Hatchell (pictured) said of the UConn matchup.
UNC leads the series 5-4 but has lost two straight, including an 88-58 win last season at the Smith Center when the Huskies were ranked No. 1 and the Tar Heels No. 2.
UNC freshman guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt missed Wednesday’s win over Georgia Tech with a shoulder injury and is doubtful for today’s game. UConn guard Tiffany Hayes suffered a sprained ankle on Thursday night against Cincinnati and is probable for the contest.
No. 7 UNC at No. 1 Connecticut
[Saturday, 4 p.m., Gampel Pavilion, Storrs]
UNC leads series 5-4.
Records: UNC 13-1, UConn 14-0.
Audio: WCHL-AM 1360; TarHeelBlue.com; UConnHuskies.com.
Video: WRAL-TV 5.
Coaches’ records – UNC: Sylvia Hatchell: 825-283, 553-203 at UNC; UConn: Geno Auriemma 710-122.
Leading scorers – UNC: Italee Lucas 17.4; UConn: Maya Moore 19.5.
Leading rebounders – UNC: Laura Broomfield 7.8; UConn: Tina Charles 8.1.
Assist leaders – UNC: Cetera DeGraffenreid 6.1; UConn: Caroline Doty 4.2.
