No. 5 North Carolina 63, No. 24 Villanova 56

LAS VEGAS (AP) The North Carolina Tar Heels put their lackluster first half behind them. Then they did the same to Villanova.<br> <br> After scoring just 25 points in the first half, the No. 5 Tar Heels went on a 13-2 run to start the second and survived a late surge by No. 24 Villanova for a 63-56 victory in the Lady Rebel Shootout on Saturday.<br> <br> ``They told us to just forget about the first half,&#39;&#39; said Camille Little, who scored 13 points for North Carolina (4-0). ``We started off slow, but we knew it was a new game in the second half.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Nikita Bell scored five straight points to open the second half, and the Tar Heels held Villanova (2-1) to just six points over nine minutes.<br> <br> ``We just had to settle down and play our game,&#39;&#39; Tar Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell said. ``We got going in the second half, but if you look at the shot chart, we had plenty of chances on the inside in the first half.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> North Carolina advanced to Sunday&#39;s championship and will face the winner of UNLV-Texas-Arlington. Villanova will play the loser in the consolation game.<br> <br> Liad Suez led all scorers with 16 points and added eight assists to keep the Wildcats close.<br> <br> Suez keyed a late rally with a pair of 3-pointers, trimming a 13-point deficit to 58-52 with 1:28 to play. But she didn&#39;t get much help from her teammates Kate Dessart Mager (14) was the only other Villanova player in double figures and the Wildcats shot just 35 percent.<br> <br> ``We have to make jump shots to be successful,&#39;&#39; Villanova coach Harry Perretta said. ``If we don&#39;t, you see what happens.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> North Carolina went 7-of-9 from the free throw line down the stretch to secure the victory and finished 14-of-18.<br> <br> Erlana Larkins added 12 points for North Carolina, while Bell finished with nine and a game-high 10 rebounds.<br> <br> The first half featured six lead changes and North Carolina trailed 26-25 at halftime. But the seventh lead change was the last, after a jumper by Bell on the Tar Heels&#39; first possession of the second half.<br> <br> ``We just had to calm down and not get frustrated,&#39;&#39; Little said. ``We knew we could take over the game in the second half.&#39;&#39;