Women's Basketball | 11/4/2015 8:13:00 PM

Chapel Hill, N.C.----The UNC Chapel Hill Tar Heels used a strong second half to take a 59-48 NCAA women's basketball exhibition victory over Wingate University Wednesday night in Carmichael Arena. Wingate junior guard Shelby Tricoli (Waynesville, N.C.) led the visitors with 11 points. The contest was tied 24-24 at intermission (NCAA box score).
 
"Today was a tremendous learning experience for us," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "As a team, we did some really good things. We competed and battled on the boards. Our new players gained experience on a big stage and we saw some things where we can improve." 
 
The game featured 10 lead changes and 10 ties. Bulldog junior guard Alex Tomlinson (Raleigh, N.C.) had nine points, while senior forward Morgan McGee (Durham, N.C.) and freshman guard Courtney Robinson (Taylors, S.C.) had seven points each. Eight Wingate student-athletes found the scoring column, compared to six UNC players.
 
For the home-standing Tar Heels, redshirt junior Hillary Summers (Fayetteville, N.C.) led all scorers with 15 points. Freshman guard Destinee Walker (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 13 points, while sophomore guard Jamie Cherry (Cove City, N.C.) added 10 points.
 
Wingate led 12-10 after one quarter. The Bulldogs started the second quarter on a 9-2 run to take a 21-12 lead on a jumper by sophomore guard Taziya Moody (Columbia, S.C.) with 6:28 left in the second stanza. The Tar Heels outscored the Bulldogs 12-3 to end the frame and send the teams to the halftime locker room tied 24-24.
 
North Carolina inched to a 41-38 led after three quarters. Wingate scored the first seven points of the fourth (and final) quarter to take a 45-41 advantage on a fast-break jumper by Robinson with 8:26 left in the contest. The Tar Heels quickly tied the game on back-to-back jumpers by senior guard N'Dea Bryant (Goose Creek, S.C.).
 
Tricoli hit two free throws to tie the game for the 10th (and final) time at 48-48 with 4:38 remaining. UNC scored the final 11 points of the contest to take the victory. Walker had five of the last 11 points for the hosts, including a huge three-point field goal to give the Tar Heels a 52-48 lead with 2:33 left.
 
The Tar Heels outrebounded the Bulldogs by a slim 45-44 margin. Bryant led the hosts with eight boards, while Tomlinson matched her total with eight rebounds of her own. Tomlinson flirted with a triple-double, as she added a team-best five assists to her nine points and eight boards.
 
UNC outscored Wingate 36-22 in the paint. The opportunistic Tar Heels turned 29 Bulldog turnovers into 22 points. By contrast, Wingate converted 16 North Carolina mistakes into 15 points. Wingate's bench outscored the UNC reserves 10-9.
 
"Overall, I believe this game will help us down the road," Hancock says. "I was pleased with our leadership and hard work. I don't think we were intimidated by the environment. We should gain confidence."
 
Both teams play one more exhibition each before lacing up their sneakers for real. Wingate visits the state capital to face N.C. State Sunday. Tip-off at Broughton High School is slated for 12 noon. The UNC Tar Heels entertain Mount Olive Monday night. Wingate opens the 2015-16 season Wednesday, Nov. 18, traveling to USC Aiken for a 5:30 p.m. NCAA Division II Southeast Region contest.