03/20/26 06:56:00
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03/20 18:54 CDT North Carolina advances in women's NCAA Tournament by beating
Western Illinois 82-51
North Carolina advances in women's NCAA Tournament by beating Western Illinois
82-51
By BOB SUTTON
Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- Nyla Harris scored 17 points, Lanie Grant had 15 and
North Carolina rolled past cold-shooting Western Illinois 82-51 on Friday night
in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament.
Nyla Brooks added 14 points and Indya Nivar had 11 as the Tar Heels, hosting
games on the opening weekend for the second year in a row, won a first-round
game for the fifth straight season.
Fourth-seeded North Carolina (27-7) will meet fifth-seeded Maryland, a 99-67
winner over Murray State in the site's first game, on Sunday in the second
round.
Mia Nicastro scored 21 points for No. 13 seed Western Illinois (26-6), which
shot 30.4% from the field. The Leathernecks were 2 for 15 on 3-pointers.
Nicastro shot 6 for 15 from the floor and 9 for 10 on free throws, coming up
just short of her 24.2 points per game scoring average.
Grant made four of North Carolina's 10 3-point baskets. Harris had 12 rebounds
as part of the Tar Heels' 47-32 edge on the boards.
North Carolina built a 23-11 lead while the Leathernecks made only three of
their first 17 shots. The Tar Heels had a 38-24 halftime lead, holding Western
Illinois to 25% shooting without a 3-point basket.
Western Illinois concluded its second winning season in the last eight years
with its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.
Up next
In a matchup of former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals, North Carolina will
play Maryland with the right to advance to the Sweet 16.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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