November 21, 2004 - North Carolina, Tennessee Earn Victories in Jimmy V Women's Basketball Classic

North Carolina, Tennessee Earn Victories in Jimmy V Women's Basketball Classic

November 21, 2004
No. 9 North Carolina upset No. 4 Connecticut and No. 1 Tennessee held off N.C. State on Sunday in the third annual Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic at the RBC Center in Raleigh. The Classic, which was televised by ESPN and ESPN2, raised $50,000 for an ovarian cancer research grant awarded to Dr. Paola Gehrig at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Tar Heels closed the day’s first game with a 16-5 run to upset Connecticut, 71-65. UNC handed the three-time defending national champions their earliest loss since 1995.

After the Huskies led by as many as 10 in the second half, UNC’s Ivory Latta pulled up for a go-ahead three-pointer with less than two minutes left in the game to cap the Tar Heel comeback. She finished with a team-high 16 points, pacing five Tar Heels in double-figure scoring. Freshman Erlana Larkins had 14 points and Camille Little added 13. Ann Strother led UConn with 17 points.

“It’s just a real honor for us to play in the Jimmy V Classic,” said UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell after the Tar Heels’ victory. “We just talked about it in the locker room. Not only is this a great victory for our team and a great game for women’s basketball, but also for The V Foundation, which is a very special organization.”

In the second game of the doubleheader, Tennessee senior Brittany Jackson drew fouls twice in the final minutes with the shot clock winding down and made four free throws, helping the top-ranked Lady Vols defeat the feisty Wolfpack, 64-54.

Shyra Ely scored 15 points and Alexis Hornbuckle added 11 for the Lady Vols. Jackson went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and finished with nine points. Tiffany Stansbury led N.C. State with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

"The Jimmy V Classic is a great event and we are honored to be a part of it,” Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. “Coach V was an inspiration to so many people and for this Foundation, and for us to in any way contribute to cancer research and to play in an event with his name on it is an honor. In the sports world I think everybody knows about The V Foundation, but I think they know about it nationally as well.”

“This is awesome because I’m a cancer survivor myself and I worked with Jim (Valvano) for 10 years,” said Kay Yow, N.C. State’s head coach. “While battling the disease, he dedicated his life to finding a cure for cancer. I just feel like I’m helping in a small way to fulfill his wish. And that makes me feel really good.”