Mavunga leads No. 14 North Carolina to 74-66 win
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Freshman Stephanie Mavunga had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 14 North Carolina to a 74-66 victory over No. 10 South Carolina on Wednesday night, ending the Gamecocks perfect start.
Diamond DeShields, the daughter of former Major Leaguer Delino Deshields, added 17 points and Xylina McDaniel, the daughter of ex-NBA standout Xavier McDaniel, had 14 for the Tar Heels (10-2), who have won five straight.
The Gamecocks (9-1) cut a 13-point lead to 55-53 with 9:21 to go on Aleighsa Welch’s two foul shots. But McDaniel answered with a driving basket and Muvanga added a putback to extend the Tar Heels lead.
South Carolina would not get closer than three points the final eight minutes.
Welch led the Gamecocks with a career-high 23 points.
North Carolina improved to 26-5 all-time in its annual holiday visit to Myrtle Beach since first playing here in the 1994-95 season.