Leah Metcalf and La'Tangela Atkinson scored 14 points each as No. 11 North Carolina beat American 80-42 Tuesday.
Freshmen Jessica Sell had 11 points, and Kenya McBee added 10 as the Tar Heels (10-1) closed the first half on a 24-2 run.
Chanel Hunt scored 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting and Angel McNatt added 12 points for American (6-5), which lost Monday night at Elon.
North Carolina shot 64 percent in the first half to overcome 10 turnovers in the opening 10:15. American was within 24-17 after Hunt made a 15-footer with 7:56 remaining in the half.
The Tar Heels scored the last 12 points of the half and led 48-19 at the break. Metcalf made three 3-pointers in the last 5:08.
Metcalf had eight rebounds and seven assists for the game.
North Carolina and American each committed 27 turnovers, a season-worst for the Tar Heels.
UNC opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on Thursday with a game at Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels host NC State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Carmichael Auditorium.
AMERICAN U. (6-5)
Hunt 8-11 0-4 16, Barnes 2-9 0-0 5, Veppumthara 2-3 0-0 4, McNatt 4-14 2-6 12, Spriggs 2-8 0-0 4, Zorzetto 0-2 0-0 0, Rhymer 0-6 1-2 1, Werries 0-4 0-0 0, Woodruff 0-0 0-2 0, Costenbader 0-3 0-0 0, Shuyler 0-4 0-0 0, Walsh 0-1 0-0 0, Branitz 0-0 0-0 0, Salem 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-65 3-14 42.
NORTH CAROLINA (10-1)
Thomas 1-4 0-2 2, Atkinson 6-8 2-6 14, Sutton 2-4 3-4 7, Brown 4-10 0-0 9, Metcalf 4-6 3-5 14, Sell 4-7 0-0 11, McBee 3-3 4-8 10, Davis 1-1 2-2 4, Chambers 1-5 0-0 3, Laaksonen 3-3 0-0 6, Tucker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-51 14-27 80.
Halftime- North Carolina 48-19. 3-Point goals-American U. 3-20 (McNatt 2-8, Barnes 1-2, Rhymer 0-1, Costenbader 0-2, Schuyler 0-3, Werries 0-4), North Carolina 8-21 (Metcalf 3-5, Sell 3-6, Chambers 1-3, Brown 1-7). Fouled out-Hunt. Rebounds-American U. 38 (Hunt, McNatt 6), North Carolina 46 (Atkinson, Metcalf 8). Assists-American U. 11 (Rhymer 4), North Carolina 23 (Brown 8). Total fouls-American U. 23, North Carolina 14.