UNC topples East Tennessee State 87-47

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Italee Lucas scored 13 points to lead four players in double figures and No. 12 North Carolina used a big second half to surge past East Tennessee State 87-47 Wednesday night.

Jessica Breland added 11 points and nine rebounds and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt 11 points for the Tar Heels (9-0). Krista Gross added a career-high 10 points.

Junior guard Natalie Pickwell had a career-high 21 and Destiny Mitchell 10 points for the Bucs (2-5), who have lost five straight.

UNC has won all 12 meetings with ETSU.

The Tar Heels shot 46 percent and won the rebound margin 53-39 and forced 31 turnovers.

UNC led 39-26 at halftime. Pickwell, who came into the game averaging eight points, had 16 points at the break, going 4-for-8 on 3-pointers.

ETSU led 5-4 before the Tar Heels responded with an 11-0 run that ended on Gross’ 3-pointer at the 11:36 mark.

The Tar Heels put the game away with a 26-0 run midway through the second half to go up 73-34 on a Breland free throw with 8:14 remaining. Ruffin-Pratt scored seven points during the span.