Mon Mar 31 22:45:35 2008

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High Five: LSU beats UNC to extend Final Four string

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New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Sylvia Fowles scored 21 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and blocked five shots, and LSU became the second team in women's NCAA Tournament history to make five consecutive Final Fours by beating top- seeded North Carolina, 56-50, on Monday.

The second-seeded Lady Tigers (31-5) won the New Orleans Regional thanks to holding North Carolina to 33.9 percent shooting. Quianna Chaney added 13 points and Erica White tallied eight points and eight rebounds for the Lady Tigers.

LSU will now try to reverse history, as the Lady Tigers have lost in all four of its trips to the Final Four. The Lady Tigers will face either Tennessee or Texas A&M next Sunday in Tampa, Florida.

Connecticut (2000-04) is the only other team to advance to five straight Final Fours.

LaToya Pringle scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds before fouling out for the Tar Heels (33-3), who didn't have another player in double figures. Erlana Larkins had 11 rebounds, but shot just 2-of-11 from the field and finished with five points. UNC was denied its third straight Final Four appearance.

Pringle's free throw had UNC within 39-37 with 6:06 remaining, but the Lady Tigers ran off the next seven points. RaShonta LeBlanc hit a three-pointer and her two foul shots capped the rally with under four minutes left.

The Tar Heels couldn't get closer than four the rest of the way.