WOMEN'S TOP 25 \ Friday's game

N.C. State 72, No. 2 North Carolina 65
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Keisha Brown scored 16 points and North Carolina State held off North Carolina after nearly blowing a 26-point lead. Marquetta Dickens added 15 points for the Wolfpack (19-8, 8-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), who snapped a seven-game losing streak against their instate rival on a night when the university honored longtime coach Kay Yow. Erlana Larkins scored 16 points for the Tar Heels (25-2, 9-2), who nearly overcame a disastrous first half and twice got as close as three points in the final minutes. But the Wolfpack held on, getting a clutch jumper from Ashley Key with the shot clock winding down to help avoid a crushing loss on an emotional night. After LaToya Pringle had scored inside to make it 66-63 with 2:02 left, Key knocked down a jumper on the right wing over Ivory Latta to push the lead back to five and take some momentum back from the charging Tar Heels. The Tar Heels came up empty on the ensuing possessions until Latta scored on a putback to cut the lead to 68-65 with 21.3 seconds left. But Key went 4-for-4 at the line in the final seconds to seal it, setting off an oncourt victory party for the Wolfpack fans.
Associated Press
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