No. 1 UConn beats N. Carolina

Posted January 21, 2008 10:00 pm

Associated Press

STORRS, Conn. -- Renee Montgomery scored 26 points and top-ranked Connecticut stayed unbeaten by rallying to beat No. 3 North Carolina 82-71 on Monday night.

Maya Moore added 19 points and Tina Charles had 15 points and matched her career-high with 19 rebounds for Connecticut (18-0).

The game featured two of the highest scoring offenses in the country with both teams averaging over 85 points and they didn't disappoint. Only four teams had scored over 50 points this season against UConn. North Carolina passed that mark early in the second half.

Both teams saw the game as a litmus test to see where they stood midway through the regular season. The Tar Heels' only loss had been to then-No. 1 Tennessee. North Carolina had reeled off 8 straight victories since that defeat on Dec. 2. Connecticut (17-2) hadn't played a top-10 opponent since Thanksgiving weekend.

Latoya Pringle scored 20 points to lead North Carolina.