Whether the North Carolina senior is attempting a simple turnaround jump shot or jumping straight up for a block, the movement of her thin 6-foot-3 frame is fluid and purposeful.

And there she was two minutes into Sunday's game, running out on the perimeter with her long arms extended, blocking the shot of Bucknell's Hope Foster and launching the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels on a 16-0 first-half run, which eventually turned into a 85-50 rout in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tournament.

By the time Pringle boarded the bus outside the Ted Constant Convocation Center, she had amassed a game-high 19 points - 14 in the first half - six rebounds, five blocks, one assist, one steal, one foul and no turnovers.

Efficient and helpful for the second-ranked Tar Heels (31-2), her performance demonstrated the type of player she has blossomed into -- a defensive stopper and go-to scorer.

With her five blocks on Sunday, Pringle became North Carolina's all-time career blocks leader with 331, surpassing Dawn Royster, who swatted 329 shots while playing from 1984-87.

"I am excited," Pringle said. "It hasn't been broken in like 20-something years. Looking at myself, I didn't think I could do it. I'm excited; I worked hard to get it, and now I have to celebrate."

Celebrate for about 15 minutes with the rest of the Tar Heels, who dispatched Bucknell (16-16) and made their record 14-3 in NCAA first-round games.

The victory came on Easter, a holiday that draws fine memories for the UNC program, considering the Heels won their first national championship on April 3, 1994, with a winning shot by Charlotte Smith with seven-tenths of a second remaining.

Coach Sylvia Hatchell, of course, needed no reminder of the day's significance. Back then, she called Smith's shot the second greatest miracle to happen on Easter.

"It was an absolute miracle," she said. "I think back about it now, and it's just still like it's incredible."

The Heels want to experience incredible again at the Final Four in Tampa, Fla., on April 6 and 8.

Boasting wins in 22 of their past 23 games, the Tar Heels now face No. 8 seed Georgia on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (23-9) were 67-61 winners over Iowa.

Hatchell mostly applauded her team's efforts on Sunday, yet she expressed some minor discontent with the Heels' lethargic play midway through the first half.

"I felt like when we got the lead then we relaxed some, and I wasn't real pleased with that," she said. "I know they weren't either."

For several stretches, the Heels performed like a team that had not played a game since March 9. Passes sailed off target. Halfcourt sets sputtered. Focus stalled.

"We have been practicing a lot, but practice is nothing like going up and down the floor," UNC junior Rashanda McCants said.

Still, Bucknell ran into a team with depth and a knack for transition. UNC shot 49.2 percent from the field (32-for-65) and 77.3 percent (17-for-22) on free throws.

"They're loaded," Foster, Bucknell's senior forward, said.

Foster added that Pringle's blocks can disrupt a team. The Bison shot 26.7 percent.

"Once you block a couple, people get a little timid to come in there and play their normal game," said Pringle, whose team ranks first in the nation in blocks. "So I think it helped us on the inside, but I don't think they backed off."

Last season, Pringle set UNC's blocks record with 121 in 38 games.

Hatchell credited Pringle's volleyball experience at Seventy-First High in Fayetteville, where she was an all-state striker.

"Her timing is incredible," Hatchell said.

That timing earned Pringle first-team All-ACC honors this season and the league's defensive player of the year award. She ranks 11th in the nation in blocks with 90 this season.

"I've never seen anybody ... besides the guys block like she does," UNC sophomore forward Jessica Breland said.