No. 14 UNC had an easy start in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Honolulu, while N.C. State will be looking for consolation in the third-place game of the Nugget Classic.
- Photo courtesy UNC athletics
- UNC guard Italee Lucas
Meanwhile No. 6 Duke will play an in-state road game Saturday, facing off with UNC Charlotte at 5.
UNC 93, WSU 55
Italee Lucas scored 21 points, Jessica Breland 19 and Chay Shegog had 18 to help UNC demolish winless Washington State in the opening game of Hawaii’s eight-team tournament.
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Tar Heels (5-0), while Laura Broomfield chipped in eight points to go with her 10 rebounds.
Carly Noyes scored 11 points to lead WSU (0-5).
The Tar Heels will play Illinois (3-2) in the semifinal round on Saturday at 9:45 EST. The championship round is Sunday.
Nevada 74, NCSU 70
Thane Robinson’s long 3-pointer turned out to be the game-winner for Nevada in a win over NCSU.
he host Wolf Pack (4-1), led by 26 points and 12 rebounds from Shavon Moore, overcame an eight-point deficit in the second half.
Amber White led NCSU (3-3) with 19 points, followed by Bonae Holston with 14. Freshmen Kody Burke and Lakeesa Daniel added 10 points each.
N.C. State’s third-place game against Minnesota (2-3) is at 8 p.m. Saturday, followed by the title game pitting Nevada and San Diego State (1-3).
Duke stays on the road
The 5-0 Blue Devils play the second of their four straight road games on Saturday afternoon, hoping to improve to 7-3 all-time against the 49ers.
Duke won 57-44 last season at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Following today’s contest, the Blue Devils’ next game will be on Tuesday at James Madison.
Today’s single game
No. 6 Duke vs. UNC Charlotte
[Saturday, 5 p.m., Halton Arena]
Audio: WDNC 620.
Records: Duke 5-0; UNCC 3-1.
Coaches’ records — Duke: Joanne P. McCallie 402-170, 86-22 at Duke; UNCC: Karen Aston 62-38 at UNCC.
Leading scorers — Duke: Jasmine Thomas 15.2; UNCC: Shannon McCallum 14.2.
Leading rebounders — Duke: Krystal Thomas 7.2; UNCC: Jennifer Hailey 8.7.
Assist leaders — Duke: Jasmine Thomas 4.2; UNCC: Kendria Holmes 4.5.
