Tuesday night wasn’t pretty for the UNC women’s basketball team, but it found a way to win.
The Tar Heels made their first-ever trip to Greensboro, matching up with a strong North Carolina A&T squad in its home opener. UNC entered with a pair of blowout victories, while the Aggies lost at Rice by one (61-60) on Thursday, Nov. 7.
With both teams tied at 16 three minutes into the second quarter, North Carolina closed the half on a 19-5 run, distancing itself and using lockdown defense to nab a 66-47 victory.
The Tar Heels moved to 3-0 in the process, snagging a much-needed win ahead of their massive, Friday non-conference matchup with 11-time national champion UConn.
UNC struggled clicking offensively, but the defense was exceptional – whether it was blocked shots, great lateral quickness or ability to get back.
North Carolina forced 21 A&T turnovers, as starting guard Reniya Kelly leading all players with five steals. Kelly was one of eight Tar Heels who generated a steal, including everyone in the entire starting lineup – and one of four with multiple steals – joined by Laila Hull, Lexi Donarski and Richmond transfer Grace Townsend.
UNC blocked five shots, led by two from its 5-star, towering freshman center Blanca Thomas. North Carolina never let the host Aggies score more than 13 points in a single quarter, while North Carolina never scored any less than 12 points in a quarter.
On a night where the Tar Heel offense struggled to find consistency, Hull, the redshirt freshman guard, stepped up to lead her team with 14 points. Lexi Donarski was the only other UNC player in double-digits, scoring 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting and two made free throws.
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