Paris Kea and her North Carolina teammates found the perfect birthday present Wednesday for coach Sylvia Hatchell. A victory in the ACC Women’s Basketball tournament.
Kea, a redshirt junior playing in her hometown, poured in a game-high 28 points, and North Carolina took control in the fourth quarter to turn back Boston College 69-64 in the first round of the 41st annual ACC women’s tournament in the Greensboro Coliseum.
The victory, coming on Hatchell’s 66th birthday, advances 12th-seeded UNC (15-15) to play fifth-seeded and 23rd-ranked N.C. State (22-7) at 11 a.m. Thursday in the second round.
UNC freshman center Janelle Bailey, named the ACC Rookie of the Year earlier Wednesday, added 16 points and 13 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season despite a scoreless first half.