Xylina McDaniel scored 19 points and had six steals as No. 16 North Carolina used a key 19-2 second-half run to come back and beat Clemson 65-58 Sunday in each team's Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
The Tar Heels (13-1) trailed 43-35 after Chancie Dunn's layup for Clemson. McDaniel responded with a layup with 12:20 left, sparking the 19-2 run that put UNC up 54-45 with 6:23 to play. McDaniel scored eight points during the run, which came amid 15 consecutive missed shots by the Tigers. Clemson (4-8) made just 4 of 21 field goals over the game's final 14 minutes.
North Carolina forced 35 Clemson turnovers and converted for 36 points.
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt added 15 points, six steals, six rebounds and five assists for the Tar Heels.
Nikki Dixon led Clemson with 22 points while Quinyotta Pettaway had 10 points and a career-best 18 rebounds.
