North Carolina Beats Purdue, Earns Last Spot in Women's Final Four

Purdue versus North Carolina on Tuesday night was the last of the four regional finals in this year's edition of the women's NCAA Tournament. It was also the closest game of the four. In the end it was the second No. 1 seed to play on Tuesday night stamping a ticket into the Final Four.

The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Purdue Boilermakers on Tuesday night 84-72 to win the Dallas region. The Tar Heels join Tennessee as the second top seed to make it to the national semifinals. North Carolina, a team that was often overshadowed by the Duke Blue Devils throughout the season, is now two games away from a national championship.

The game was closer than the 12-point final score might lead one to believe. The two teams traded the lead back and forth during the first half with neither team able to pull away. With under five minutes left in the half the Tar Heels burst out on a 16-2 run on their way to a seven point halftime advantage. Purdue kept the game close in the second half but the Boilermakers couldn't regain the lead. They brought the deficit within six with under two minutes to play but failed to make another field goal afterwards. North Carolina would eventually ice the game away and earn a spot into a game on Sunday evening.

North Carolina forward Erlana Larkins led all scorers with 29 points, going 12-16 from the field. Larkins finished with a double-double, pulling down ten rebounds as well. Ivory Latta, the most known Tar Heel, slumped in the first half but finished with 21 points. Rashanda McCants scored 15 points for North Carolina. Camille Little finished with ten points and five rebounds. As a team the Heels only made two three-pointers. However, North Carolina shot 55 percent from the field (33-60).

Katie Geralds led Purdue in scoring with 28 points. She also finished with seven rebounds. Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton had 14 points and seven rebounds. Erin Lawless added five rebounds to her ten points. Purdue shot well beyond the arc, making eight three-pointers out of 20 attempts. They also shot an impressive 45.2 percent from the field. When compared to the Tar Heels, though, it wasn't good enough.

The women's Final Four is now set. North Carolina will face off against Tennessee in a battle of No. 1 seeds. Rutgers will play LSU in the other contest. Purdue ends an impressive season with an overall record of 31-6.