Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Shanel Harrison led all scorers with 18 points and recorded her first double-double as an Explorer, helping the La Salle women's basketball team race out to a 25-13 lead before eventually falling 85-55 at 25th-ranked North Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Carmichael Arena.

Harrison scored 14 first-half points and Brittany Wilson added 11 of her 14 points as the Explorers (1-4) led the Heels 32-31 at the break. Although this was the first-ever meeting between La Salle and North Carolina, Harrison came in with experience against the Heels, having played three games against them as a member of the Virginia Tech team.

Harrison added three steals.

Walteia Rolle finished with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Tar Heels (5-0). Hillary Fuller added 13 points, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt scored 12 and Xylina McDaniel chipped in 11 points to round out the double-figure scorers.

The Explorers came out sizzling hot. After winning the tip, Jordan Mosley nailed a quick two and the squad went on to hit 10 of their first 16 shots through the second media timeout to build a 23-13 lead. Harrison added another jumper after the break to give the Explorers their biggest lead at 25-13, and held UNC scoreless for over four minutes midway through the first half.

The Explorer defense was spectacular early on, with the Blue & Gold outrebounding the Heels 11-2 at the 11:25 timeout and holding UNC to 5-of-11 from the floor.

UNC's Walteia Rolle hit a jumper at 7:36 to break the Heels' scoreless drought and the home squad finished the first half on an 18-7 run with the Explorers holding a 32-31 halftime lead.

The second half was all Tar Heels, as they came out of the break on a 16-0 run to build a 47-32 lead. Harrison got the Explorers' first points of the half at the 13:59 mark. The squads traded baskets for the next minute to put the score at 51-36 UNC before Ebonee Jones nailed three straight free throws at 12:54 to bring the Explorers within 12 at 51-39.

That was the closest La Salle would get as North Carolina built a 34-point lead with less than a minute to play before the final 85-55 score.

After the Explorers dominated the boards early, the Tar Heels came back to outrebound La Salle 60-43.

La Salle held North Carolina to 3-of-17 from three-point range, while the Explorers hit 3-of-11.

The Explorers remain on the road, with a contest at Georgetown on Wednesday (11/28) at 8 p.m.