No. 6 North Carolina 98, Coastal Carolina 41

12/17/2005 5:17 PM

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - No. 6 North Carolina needed less than two hours Saturday to overwhelm Coastal Carolina. For veteran Coastal Carolina coach Alan LeForce, it really only took a fraction of that time.

``I looked up at the start and we were down 18-2. That was it,'' LeForce said. ``They just jumped on us early and we never recovered.''

Twelve different Tar Heels scored in the 98-41 victory, and combined to make 38 of 65 shots from the field (58.5 percent), including 10-of-19 shooting on 3-pointers. North Carolina led by 60 with about 10 minutes to play.

``I kept thinking we'd settle down and get in the game, but we never did,'' LeForce said. ``We were just terrible. I'm embarrassed for our players. We're a better team than we showed today.''

North Carolina freshman Heather Claytor came off the bench to hit six 3-pointers for 18 points. La'Tangela Atkinson was 6-for-6 from the field and Camille Little 5-for-5 for 13 and 11 points, respectively. Ivory Latta added 12 points and eight assists.

``We've got a lot of people who can shoot, and you've got to guard them all,'' North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. ``You can't double-team anybody.''

Off to its best start since the 1994-95 season, North Carolina (10-0) hit baskets from all over the court to take its 25th straight win at home and set season highs for points and winning margin.

``We played a lot of people,'' Hatchell said. ``When I put them in, I tell them I expect them to get in there to keep things going. We like the up tempo.''

Kim Turner led Coastal Carolina (3-2) with 13 points. But Coastal Carolina simply couldn't keep pace.

``This is the best team, offensively, she (Hatchell) has ever had here,'' LeForce said. ``If you play them man-to-man, they get mismatches on you at almost every position and just post up. If you zone them, they just hit you with that inside-out game.''

Claytor was among North Carolina's first substitutes 6 minutes into the game and had three 3-pointers by halftime.

``If I don't shoot, I get yelled at, so I just shoot as soon as I get open,'' Claytor said. ``You always want to show what you can do when you get in there. You hope you'll get called on for big situations.''