(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio).
Lara Sanders, known to fans of the North Carolina Tar Heels as LaToya Pringle, is making her Olympic debut very memorable.
Sanders scored 36 points Tuesday in helping her adopted country Turkey keep its hopes alive of reaching the knockout round by beating Japan 76-62. Not only was her scoring performance the best in women's basketball in Rio, it ranks among the best in the Olympics.
Sanders is averaging 21.7 points through three games.
The 6-foot-3 center was the 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, and she helped the Tar Heels to four straight ACC titles under coach Sylvia Hatchell. She played in two Final Fours with the Tar Heels before beign drafted 13th overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. Sanders also has played for Minnesota, Washington and Los Angeles in the WNBA, though she has played extensively in Tureky. That's what helped her earn a trip to Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Games.
I wanna say something; Lara Sanders That's all I wanted to say thank you ...
— Yalçın Azizoğlu (@Love_ThisGame) August 9, 2016