“We learned mental toughness at 6 a.m. the next morning,” said sophomore forward Stephanie Mavunga.
The lessons learned in that practice showed on the court Sunday afternoon against Georgia Tech (12-6, 2-2 ACC). The Tar Heels (15-2, 2-1 ACC) opened the game on a 12-4 run and the outcome was never in doubt on the way to a 96-81 win.
“This is the way we need to play the rest of the year,” Hatchell said.
Four Tar Heels scored in double digits, led by Mavunga with 20 points and 13 rebounds. UNC tied a season-high of 96 points while playing its fifth game without junior forward Xylina McDaniel.
Without McDaniel, UNC opted for a four-guard lineup that left Mavunga as the only forward. Hatchell said the lineup created matchup issues because, with four other guards who can drive and shoot threes, it becomes hard for teams to double Mavunga down low. She capitalized on the mismatch with a huge game.
Senior guard Brittany Rountree and sophomore guard Allisha Gray both finished in double digits, while sophomore guard Jessica Washington tied a career high with 16 points off the bench. Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph credited Washington’s points as the difference-maker in the game, given UNC’s bench outscored the Yellow Jackets’ 38-24.
