The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net Still working her way back into playing shape on the court, Waltiea Rolle and the North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team continue to make strides toward contending for the ACC title and a run in the NCAA tournament. After starting the season 12-2, the Tar Heels have dropped three consecutive games including an 86-35 loss at the hands of the third ranked UConn Huskies. Rolle just recently returned to action after she gave birth to her first child - a daughter - on November 8 and was not enrolled at UNC during the fall semester. She returned to Chapel Hill after Christmas and rejoined the team prior to the Savannah State game on December 29. In her return to the floor, Rolle scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in six minutes of play. Rolle has appeared in seven games since her return and has scored a total of 12 points along with six rebounds and three blocks. Rolle withdrew from school for the fall semester but became eligible to return once the fall semester ended and final exams concluded December 16. In two seasons with the Tar Heels, she became a powerful defensive presence who established herself as one of the nation's top shot blockers and has already reached as high as fifth in school history in career blocks. She also has two of the 10 best shot-blocking seasons in school history. Rolle blocked 82 shots last season and averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Tar Heels. To make up the frontcourt depth with the loss of the 6' 6" Rolle, the Tar Heels have relied on 6' 5" senior center Chay Shegog and 6' 1" senior forward Laura Broomfield. The Tar Heels are slated to continue ACC play when they travel to face Virginia Tech 5pm today. The Tar Heels' 12-5 overall record includes 2-2 in the ACC while the Hokies are 6-12, 2-3 in the ACC. Rolle and the North Carolina Tar Heels were eliminated from the 2011 NCAA tournament in the regional semifinal over the weekend. The Tar Hells fell 72-65 to the top ranked team in the Spokane region, the Stanford Cardinal. The former C R Walker Knight star, who also attended Albury Sayles Primary School, had a prep career filled with accolades in Texas. She attended Westbury Christian School in Houston, Texas, and was selected WBCA All-America, Second-team Parade Magazine All-America, Second-team ESPNRISE.com All-America. Prior to her signing at North Carolina, Rolle was highly touted on several ranking systems, including a 28th rank in the nation by ESPN Hoop Gurlz and 21st by the All-Star Girls Report, ninth among centers by ESPN Hoop Gurlz and was a first-team TAPPS all-state performer and District 4-5A Player of the Year as a junior.