Austin Peay women's basketball team ends the non-conference portion of its 2008-09 schedule with always formidable and nationally-ranked North Carolina in a 1 p.m. (CT), Tuesday contest at the Dean E. Smith Center.

The Lady Govs close out a December that saw them on the road for six of their seven contests during the month. They enter Tuesday's outing 3-3 during the month and 5-7 overall after an 81-53 victory at Elon. Junior Nicole Jamen scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the victory and was named the Ohio Valley Conference's “Player of the Week,” Monday.

North Carolina enters the contest ranked second in both the Associated Press Poll and USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Poll. The Tar Heels have rattled off 13 straight victories to start the campaign and have pushed head coach Sylvia Hatchell ? in her 23rd season at UNC ? to within three wins of her 800th career victory.

Following Tuesday's contest, Austin Peay returns home and reopens Ohio Valley Conference action with a 5:15 p.m., Saturday contest against Morehead State.

ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY...
Austin Peay improved to 5-7 after an 81-53 victory at Elon, Sunday, in the first leg of its two-game North Carolina swing. It was the Lady Govs largest margin of victory during the Carrie Daniels era, and largest since a similar 25-point victory at Memphis, during the 2005-06 season.

The Lady Govs have broken out quickly in its last two outings, scoring 33 points in the first half at Alabama, Dec. 20, and scoring 40 opening-frame points at Elon. After faltering in the second half en route to a loss at Alabama, Austin Peay kept the momentum going in a 41-point second half at Elon en route to the victory.

Individually, junior Nicole Jamen ? following her career-high 24 points at Elon ? leads Austin Peay with 11.5 points per game, ranking 16th among all OVC players. On the glass, three APSU players are ranked among the OVC's top 10: senior April Thomas (7.2 rpg, 6th), junior Nicole Jamen (7.1 rpg, 8th), and Herring (6.3 rpg, 10th). The Lady Govs are the only team with three players among the league's top 10 in rebounding.

A GLANCE AT NORTH CAROLINA...
North Carolina has opened the season with 13 straight victories after downing Western Michigan, 102-55, Sunday. It was the third time this season the Tar Heels broke the 100-point plateau and seventh time they have surpassed 90 points.

UNC is ranked among the nation's top 10 in six different statistical categories, including third-place ranks in scoring offense and steals per game. Despite the third-place ranking in scoring, North Carolina does not have a player ranked among the nation's top 100 in individual scoring. However, four UNC players are averaging more than 10 points per game.

Individually, Cetera DeGraffenreid leads the Tar Heels, ranking eighth nationally in steals (3.7), eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.52:1) and 78th in assists (4.4). Jessica Breland leads UNC in scoring (14.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg).