No. 1 North Carolina Struggles Past Eighth-Seeded Georgia 80-66

Norfolk, VA (AHN) -- Top-seeded and No. 2-ranked North Carolina went on a 20-0 run over the last four minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the second half to finally put away stubborn eighth-seed Georgia 80-66 on Tuesday to beat the Bulldogs for the first time in six meetings.

Georgia (23-10) led 33-26 before the Tar Heels (32-2) closed the half on a 10-0 run to lead 36-33 at the half. The Heels then scored the first 10 points of the second half for a 46-33 lead and the margin would grow to 56-40. Georgia would get no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Reshanda McCants scored 23 points and Erlana Larkins added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Heels, who have won 15 straight.

Tasha Humphrey led Georgia with 20 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Megan Darrah with 14 points.

Georgia turned the ball over 24 times and made only 23 field goals. They also had two players foul out and three others end the game with four fouls.

The Bulldogs, which started the season 13-0, went 10-10 over the next 20 games and will miss advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years.

North Carolina, which is a No. 1 seed for the fourth straight year, advances to the Regional semifinals for the fourth straight season and will play fourth-seeded Louisville.