ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Gisela Sanchez scored 15 points off the bench, including four free throws in the final 20 seconds, and No. 16 Kansas State defeat No. 18 North Carolina 63-56 on Saturday in a battle of unbeaten teams at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
The Wildcats (6-0) made 8 of 10 free throws in the final two minutes and were 15 of 20 from the line in the fourth quarter to hold off the Tar Heels (5-1).
Serena Sundell had 16 points for Kansas State and Lee had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Deja Kelly led the Tar Heels with 14 points and Kayla McPherson had 11.
Sanchez opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to give KSU at 48-40 lead. The only other basket by the Wildcats was Lee’s jumper that made it 55-50 with 2:14 to play. Kansas State went 2 of 6 in the quarter.
After North Carolina pulled within 55-52 on Anya Poole’s layup with 1:54 to play, the Tar Heels finished 1 for 5. They went 7 of 16 in the quarter, missing all five 3-pointers, and were just 2 of 3 from the foul line.
North Carolina had 2-0 and 4-2 leads before the Wildcats ripped off 12-straight with five different players scoring. The lead was 32-22 at the half.
Kansas State will meet the winner of the No. 5 Iowa-Florida Gulf Coast game in the championship on Sunday. The Hawkeyes beat the Wildcats 65-58 earlier this season. North Carolina faces the loser in the third-place game.
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