Box Score MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team led for the majority of the first half, but were unable to sustain the lead in the second half as the Lady Tigers dropped a 79-63 decision to North Carolina on Tuesday afternoon in the Philanthropist.com Carolinas Challenge.
 
The Lady Tigers (3-6) opened the game on a 10-2 run, but trailed at the break by four, 43-39. The Tar Heels used a 12-2 run toward the end of the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
 
Shakyla Hill led three Grambling State players in double figures with 20 points, on 8-of-16 shooting. She added a team-high seven rebounds, six assists and six steals. Monisha Neal registered 16 points, four boards and three steals, while Laneisha Jeans tallied 12 points, including going 5-of-8 shooting, with two rebounds and a pair of steals.
 
Jamie Cherry paced North Carolina (9-2) with 22 points, including going 6-of-9 at the foul line, with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Janelle Bailey chipped in with 15 points and eight boards, while Taylor Koenen recorded a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, along with a team-high six assists. Paris Kea tallied 14 points, six boards, two steals and two assists.
 
Turning Point
Grambling State raced out to a 10-2 advantage after a Jeans 3-pointer with 7:17 remaining in the opening quarter, but the Tar Heels closed the gap to 12-9 on a 7-2 run, capped by a Taylor Koenen trey with 4:54 left.
 
The Lady Tigers pushed the margin to 16-9 after a Deja McKinney bucket, but North Carolina trimmed the deficit to 18-16 after a 3-pointer by Jamie Cherry. Grambling State closed out the quarter on a 5-3 run to take a 23-19 advantage into the second quarter.
 
North Carolina opened the second quarter strong and took a 32-29 advantage after a pair of free throws by Paris Kea with 7:04 left in the first half. The Tar Heels extended the margin to 35-29 after a layup by Koenen, but Grambling State rallied and tied the game at 35 after two free throws by Williams with 3:44 left.
 
The Tar Heels closed out the first half on a 9-4 run to take a 44-39 advantage into the break.
 
Grambling State cut the deficit to 49-47 after a 3-pointer by Monisha Neal with 5:18 remaining in the third. However, North Carolina went on a 12-2 run, capped by a Cherry free throw to send the Tar Heels into the final period with a 61-49 advantage.
 
The Tar Heels extended the lead to 70-52 with 5:46 remaining and the Lady Tigers could never recover.
 
Inside The Numbers
* Grambling State shot 38.2 percent (26-of-68) from the field and 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the free-throw line.
* North Carolina was 28-of-60 (46.7 percent) shooting and 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the charity stripe.
* The Tar Heels finished with 51 rebounds, with 30 coming on the defensive glass.
* The Lady Tigers registered 28 rebounds, including 16 on the defensive end.
* Grambling State finished with 32 points in the paint, 23 points off 22 North Carolina turnovers, 13 bench points and four second-chance points.
* North Carolina registered 24 points in the paint, 22 second-chance points, 15 points off 15 Grambling State turnovers and 12 bench points.
* The score was tied three times and there was one lead change.
 
News & Notes
* North Carolina head coach Sylvia Hatchell captured her 1,000 career coaching victory.
* Since back-to-back wins over McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana, the Lady Tigers have dropped games to Alabama, Arkansas State and North Carolina.
* Grambling State has two games remaining in 2017, both coming on the road, against Memphis and Arkansas.
 
Up Next
Grambling State returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 21 in Memphis, Tenn., to take on Memphis. Tip-off is set for Noon.
 
Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathetics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video