Heels outlast Muskateers

North Carolina 73, Xavier 67

CHAPEL HILL -- As this season wears on into January and then March, North Carolina women's basketball players may not recall how they survived Wednesday's early-season game against rugged, rebound-hungry Xavier.

Though the No. 4-ranked Tar Heels may recall the practice following that 73-67 victory over the 23rd-ranked Musketeers. After watching her team get outrebounded by 25 at the Smith Center, coach Sylvia Hatchell insisted there would be a rebound-specific practice some time this week, perhaps 6 a.m. on Friday.

Certainly, Hatchell and the Heels were glad to secure a win over a nationally ranked team and advance to the finals of the Women's National Invitational Tournament, yet they were none too pleased with the effort in the paint.

Not even a game-high 27 points by senior guard Rashanda McCants - who scored 20 points in the second half, including an 11-point outburst that paced a critical late-game rally- could lift their dour spirits.

"We did what we had to do to win," Hatchell said. "But the rebounds were ridiculous. So we need a rebounding practice."

For a team that was only outrebounded four times last season, the Heels yielded the most rebounds ever. Xavier outrebounded the Heels 59-34 overall, and dominated on the boards in the first half with a 30-19 effort. The Musketeers received a record-setting performance from 6-foot-6 sophomore center Ta'Shia Phillips, who scored 23 points and grabbed 25 rebounds.

She collected the most rebounds by any player ever in the Smith Center, breaking a previous mark set by former UNC men's basketball Sean May in March of 2005 (24).

Phillips lifted her team into halftime with a 40-37 lead, scoring 13 points and grabbing 15 boards.

"They've got some really strong, really long athletic kids," Phillips said.

"Coach told us to put a body on them and that's what we did. We saw they had a weak side, especially on weak side rebounding. So he told us to hit that spot and that's where most of the rebounds came off."

It was apparent the Heels were losing the first-half rebounding battle when during a timeout with 2:55 left UNC associate head coach Andrew Calder expressed his concerns, clapping his hands and yelling "rebound."

"Box somebody," Calder said raising his elbows as if he were rebounding.

The Heels finally got the message in the second and intensified their half-court defense, trapping Xavier guards and anticipating passes on the wing.

UNC freshman center Chay Shegog stole a pass from Phillips out high and dribbled on a break for a layup and was fouled. She hit her free throw and pulled the Heels withing two points.

McCants' jumper pulled the score even at 53-53 with nine minutes left. And then she went out her scoring run to pull the Heels out in front 62-53.

After McCants fouled out with 2:54 remaining, the Heels made 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch and held on for the win.

McCants, who said the team deserved to be punished for it's poor effort, said she's experienced a few of Hatchell's rebounding practices, but didn't know how this one would compare.

"It's going to be tough," she said.

NO. 4 NORTH CAROLINA 73, NO. 23 XAVIER 67