UNC women survive a scare

FREEPORT, BAHAMAS -- Imam McFarland scored 16 points to lead No. 2 North Carolina, but one of her 14 rebounds may have been the most important play of the game.

McFarland grabbed her own miss and scored with 11 seconds remaining to help the Tar Heels hold on to beat Oregon State 82-78 on Saturday night in the title game of the Junkanoo Jam.

"Our coaches have been working us hard on getting aggressive around the basket, and really focusing on going after the ball," McFarland said.

The win was UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell's 791st, moving her closer to becoming the fourth Division I coach with 800 career wins.

Brittney Davis scored 22 points and Talisa Rhea added 18 for the Beavers (3-1).

UNC (8-0) opened an 11-2 lead and cruised to a 45-30 halftime lead, but the Beavers slowly cut down the deficit in the second half.

The Tar Heels still led 75-62 with 6:25 left when they suddenly went cold, going scoreless for the next 4 1/2 minutes. Oregon State pulled within three on Brittany Kennedy's 3-pointer with 2:56 left, then to within one on a basket by Davis with 45 seconds left.

UNC called a timeout and set up its offense, and Cetera DeGraffenreid missed on a long 3-point attempt. McFarland grabbed the loose ball, missed a putback, got her own rebound and finally scored to give the Heels an 80-77 lead.

Davis had a chance to tie the score when she was fouled on a driving layup, but the shot rimmed out. She missed the first of two free throws, then converted the second, but the Tar Heels sealed it from the free throw line.