NORTH CAROLINA-CHIZIK
AP source: Chizik to coach Tar Heels’ defense
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β Former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik has accepted an offer to coach North Carolina’s struggling defense. That’s ccording to a person familiar with the situation said Friday.
The person said Chizik will receive a 3-year contract. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the school won’t make an official announcement until the deal is finalized and approved by its board of trustees.
Chizik will replace Vic Koenning, who was associate head coach for defense the past three seasons. Head coach Larry Fedora said last month that he and Koenning had reached a “mutual decision” that Koenning would pursue other college jobs after the Tar Heels had one of the worst defensive years in school history.
Chizik coached Auburn to the 2010 national championship with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton.
T25-EAST TENNESSEE STATE-NORTH CAROLINA
No. 9 UNC routs East Tennessee State 95-62
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β Stephanie Mavunga scored a career-high 26 points to lead No. 9 North Carolina past East Tennessee State 95-62 on Friday.
Mavunga shot 13 of 14 from the floor for the Tar Heels (13-1), who shot a season-best 57 percent from the floor.
Jamie Cherry added 13 points and Jessica Washington had 10 points for North Carolina.
Allisha Gray had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina broke open a tight game with a 20-0 run over a four-minute stretch that spanned halftime.
The Tar Heels scored on nine consecutive possessions during that span, including a 45-foot runner by Cherry that beat the buzzer to end the first half.
Shamauria Bridges scored 14 points on 4-of-18 shooting to lead ETSU (8-7), which dropped to 0-15 against North Carolina.
Tianna Tarter added 12 points for the Buccaneers.
T25-NORTH CAROLINA-ILLNESS
UNC’s Williams: Meeks, White battling stomach bug
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina coach Roy Williams says sophomore big man Kennedy Meeks and reserve point guard Stilman White are battling a stomach bug.
Williams said Friday that White won’t travel with the team for Saturday’s game at Clemson and it was unclear whether Meeks would be limited for the No. 19 Tar Heels.
The 6-foot-9 Meeks is second on the team in scoring (12.8 points) and is averaging a team-high 8.9 rebounds.
White, a sophomore, has seen only a handful of minutes in seven games this season.
After playing Clemson, UNC (10-3) hosts No. 14 Notre Dame on Monday and a visit from fifth-ranked Louisville next weekend.
CARDINALS-PANTHERS
Stopping Cam Newton will be key for Cardinals
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The key to the Arizona Cardinals advancing in the NFC playoffs could come down to their ability to slow down Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the running game.
Arizona’s defense has struggled against mobile quarterbacks the past two weeks.
Seattle’s Russell Wilson ran for 88 yards on six carries and San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick had 63 yards on seven rushes to spearhead wins over Arizona. The Cardinals allowed a combined 473 yards rushing in those two losses.
Newton is well aware of the opportunity in front of him when the Panthers host the Cardinals on Saturday in an NFC wild-card game.
T25-GEORGIA-MISSISSIPPI ST
No. 17 Mississippi St. beats No. 19 Georgia 64-56
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) β Breanna Richardson, Kendra Grant and Morgan William each scored 11 and No. 17 Mississippi State remained undefeated by beating No. 19 Georgia 64-56 on Friday.
William made all six of her free throws in the final 2:13 while Mississippi State (16-0, 1-0 SEC) made 8 of 10.
Georgia (12-2, 0-1) used a 10-4 run to close within 56-51 with 3:24 to go but went scoreless until Mackenzie Engram’s layup made it 61-53 with 42 seconds left.
Mississippi State led 31-28 at halftime and fell behind early in the second but took control with a 15-2 run to lead 46-34 with 14:46 to go.
Martha Alwal added 10 points for Mississippi State. Grant and Alwal each had seven rebounds.
Tiaria Griffin had 13 points and Engram scored 11 to lead Georgia. Griffin was 3 of 5 from 3-point range but her teammates were 2 of 16.
