CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Tierra Ruffin-Pratt matched her career high with 24 points to help No. 16 North Carolina beat North Carolina State 68-58 on Sunday.
Fellow senior Waltiea Rolle added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 13-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who beat their nearby rival for the 23rd time in 27 meetings. Ruffin-Pratt and Rolle both came up big during a 7-0 spurt that finally helped North Carolina build a cushion against the Wolfpack (13-15, 5-11), though the Tar Heels had to fight to the final minute to secure the win.
Marissa Kastanek scored 17 to lead the Wolfpack, who led by six early after halftime and trailed 54-53 with 6 minutes left before UNC’s decisive spurt.
Even then, N.C. State had chances only to come up empty on three straight possessions with the shot to make it a one-possession game and finished just 8-for-15 shooting free throws.
