North Carolina bounces back

Coming off its first loss, No. 2 North Carolina regained its winning form – if not its top form.

Ivory Latta scored 21 points and the Tar Heels shook off 28 turnovers in an 80-59 win over Florida State on Monday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

“Coming off a loss we were very emotional and coach got us fired up for this game,” Latta said. “We needed this win.”

North Carolina, which lost four days ago to top-ranked Duke, shot 55.1 percent from the field and made 20 of 23 free throws in Monday’s victory.

“It’s good to get back on the winning track,” North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said.

The Tar Heels (25-1, 9-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) jumped to a 30-10 lead with 5:44 left in the half, taking no chances in their first visit to Florida State since a 2005 overtime loss to the Seminoles.

“We couldn’t go a whole practice without coach saying ‘seniors remember you lost down there, right?’ ” said Latta, who was 7 of 13 from the floor, including 3 of 7 from 3-point range.

Despite shooting just 25 percent from the floor in the first half, Florida State narrowed its deficit to 36-26 at the break but could never get closer in the ragged contest that featured 51 turnovers.

The Tar Heels’ 17-4 run in the second half gave them a 53-30 lead and they twice were up by as many as 25 points.

Erlana Larkins finished with 16 points, Rashanda McCants 13 and LaToya Pringle and Camille Little 11 apiece for the Tar Heels.

Mara Freshour’s 12 points led the Seminoles (18-7, 7-3).

(14) Oklahoma 78, Texas 58: At Norman, Okla., Courtney Paris had 27 points and 15 rebounds and the Sooners (19-4, 9-3 Big 12) used a shuffled lineup to rout the Longhorns (16-10, 5-7).

Paris recorded her 51st straight double-double.

Tiffany Jackson led Texas with 19 points.