The UNC women's basketball team is one win away from its first trip to the NCAA Women's Final Four in seven years.
The Lady Tar Heels defeated South Carolina 65-58 to advance to the West Regional final. They'll face Stanford University on Tuesday night for a trip to the national semifinals in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will be an uphill battle for North Carolina. While the Cardinal women's squad was seeded second in the region, the regional title game is being played on Stanford's home floor.
Freshman Diamond DeShields once again led UNC in scoring. She tallied 19 points but played through a pair of injuries -- one to her right ankle, the other to her left knee. Another freshman, Stephanie Mavunga added 13 points and nine rebounds.
The win has a bit of extra meaning for North Carolina. The team has played this year without its longtime head coach Sylvia Hatchell who was diagnosed with leukemia before the season began. Her disease is now in remission. Hatchell says her doctors have told her that there is a strong possibility that she may be able to coach the team should they get to the Final Four.
The UNC/Stanford matchup tips off at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
