Paris’ surge helps No. 22 UNC beat No. 4 Notre Dame 60-50 :: WRALSportsFan.com

By AARON BEARD, AP Basketball Author

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — First-year guard Paulina Paris scored 11 of her season-high 16 factors within the fourth quarter to assist No. 22 North Carolina push previous No. 4 Notre Dame 60-50 on Sunday.

Deja Kelly added 14 factors for the Tar Heels (10-5, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Convention), who snapped a four-game skid that had drained a few of their early-season buzz. However they responded with a tough-minded efficiency on a day when nothing got here simply for both offense.

Paris, a 5-foot-9 guard, had matched her earlier season excessive of 15 factors in a loss at No. 9 Virginia Tech final weekend after which adopted by pushing previous that mark in one other marquee matchup.

That included her assured driving rating for a 45-40 lead with 6:55 left, adopted by her burying an enormous 3-pointer on the following play to push the margin to eight — which had Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey burning a timeout whereas Paris’ teammates gathered for a fast midcourt celebration of her burst.

Notre Dame (12-2, 3-1) obtained no nearer than 5 once more, with UNC making 10 of 12 free throws within the ultimate three-plus minutes to guard the margin.

UNC received regardless of capturing simply 35.6% for the sport.

The offensive grind was significantly stunning for the Preventing Irish, who entered this sport ranked ninth nationally in scoring (84.1) and fifth in capturing share (.498).

Notre Dame had shot no worse than 42.6% in any sport this yr, however struggled to knock down a lot of something from the opening tip. The Preventing Irish completed the sport capturing 28.1% (16 for 57), together with simply 2 for 22 from behind the arc.

Olivia Miles had 15 factors and 7 rebounds to guide Notre Dame, which had entered Sunday as certainly one of two unbeaten groups in ACC play.

BIG PICTURE

Notre Dame: The Preventing Irish had been off since final weekend’s blowout win towards Boston Faculty — which adopted that by upsetting No. 10 North Carolina State on the street Thursday — and wanted a win to remain alongside No. 19 Duke (4-0) within the league standings.

UNC: The Tar Heels’ season begin was marked comeback wins towards then-No. 18 Oregon and then-No. 5 Iowa State in November that helped UNC vault to No. 6 within the AP Prime 25. However the latest skid had given the Tar Heels their first 0-3 begin in ACC play underneath fourth-year coach Courtney Banghart, in addition to setting them up for a possible exit from Monday’s newest ballot — at the least, till Sunday’s grind-it-out win towards the Irish.

UP NEXT

Notre Dame: Residence towards Wake Forest on Thursday.

UNC: At Virginia on Thursday.

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Comply with Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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AP girls’s school basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25