At 6-foot-6, center Waltiea Rolle is the most physically imposing member of the North Carolina women's basketball team.
But the Tar Heels had been missing the new mother's presence in the post all season, until her return Thursday for the No. 24 Tar Heels' 74-21 rout of Savannah State.
"It feels good to be back," said Rolle, who played six minutes and finished with four points and two rebounds in her first game since giving birth to her daughter on Nov. 8. "I missed playing. I had six weeks when I couldn't do much and then started practicing two days ago."
In addition to playing its first 10 games without Rolle, the Tar Heels (9-2) also played the last four games without 6-foot senior Laura Broomfield, who had been out with a foot injury.
Pity the poor Tigers, then, who had to face UNC's three, true-post players in action in the same game for the first time this season.
Freshman guard Brittany Rountree led the way for UNC with 15 points. Center Chay Shegog, the third of UNC's post players, finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Broomfield had seven points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes.
The 21 points scored by Savannah State represented the lowest point total ever allowed by the Tar Heels, surpassing a 79-29 rout of Winthrop on Jan. 6, 2005.
UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said she was happy just to have most of her team back, with 10 healthy players on Thursday.
"It felt good," said Hatchell, whose team will host N.C. Central tonight at 7 p.m.. "We're glad to have Waltiea and Broom back out there. Waltiea's still got her shooting touch, but she got pretty winded. Her presence makes a big difference out there. We're going to get a whole lot better as we keep moving along and getting people back out there."
Jasmine Kirkland led Savannah State (5-8) with eight points.
Rolle's daughter Carlisa remains in the Bahamas with Rolle's mother, and the UNC junior said she will go back home a couple of times during the season.
"I told coach I wanted to play," Rolle said. "I feel great and ready to go, but I'm probably 60-70 percent. I knew all along I wanted to play this semester. When I first left (Carlisa) it was tough. I miss her, but I need to finish what I started (with basketball)."
Shegog said she was just happy to have her teammates back on the floor.
"The past couple of practices we've put a lot of emphasis on half-court defense, transition defense, everything defense," Shegog said. "Today was really the day to show it. And I'm glad to have Broomfield and Waltiea back. We're really looking forward to the rest of the season. It felt really good to have them out there. Krista (Gross) did a great job filling in for the 'four' and 'five,' but now she can play her natural (small forward) position."
