GREENSBORO — As it had for the majority of the 2015-16 season, North Carolina knew it needed big numbers from its first-year guards Stephanie Watts and Destinee Walker in its ACC Tournament opener against Pittsburgh.
And against the Panthers on Wednesday, the Tar Heels performance as a team was indicative of how the two played over the course of the game.
After a back-and-forth fourth quarter, UNC needed a 3-pointer from sophomore Jamie Cherry with .1 seconds left to push the game to overtime. But in that final five-minute period, Watts, Walker and the rest of the Tar Heels tapered off in a 82-72 loss.
The previous time the two sides played, UNC only amassed 16 points in the first half and turned the ball over 15 times.
But as the first 20 minutes wore on Wednesday, it seemed like the Tar Heels were ready to prove their previous performance was a fluke.
North Carolina trailed for most of the first quarter, but did stay within striking distance behind the play of Cherry — who totaled 12 points and four rebounds in the game's opening half. Watts and Walker combined for just seven points in the first frame.
The Tar Heels opened the second quarter with a sense of urgency akin to a team playing for its postseason life. North Carolina shot out to a 31-24 lead with 5:20 remaining in the half. But as the team had at times the season, UNC allowed the Panthers to close the half on a big run.
Pittsburgh finished the second quarter on an 17-2 run, taking a 41-33 at halftime. Neither Walker nor Watts scored in the second quarter, and the former tallied no points in the game's first 20 minutes.
After starting the game 0-for-9 from the floor, Walker began to find her mark in the second half. Over a 8:07 span between the third and fourth quarters, the guard made all five of the shots she attempted as UNC raced back to force overtime.
