Have a day, Deja Kelly.
The UNC women’s basketball team’s star point guard has been showing out in her final collegiate season, consistently leading her team in scoring and dropping 20 points on the regular. Along with fellow senior captain Alyssa Ustby, plus a trio of off-season transfers in Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng and Indya Nivar, Kelly is helping make the Tar Heels a legitimate ACC threat.
Kelly’s most recent 20-point outing came earlier on Thursday, Jan. 28, as she dropped 27 to lead Carolina in a 73-68 road victory over Georgia Tech. Her most impactful points came from the charity stripe, making six free throws in the final 23 seconds.
Leg sleeve or no leg sleeve, @dejakelly25 is staying the course 😏
DK matched her season high with 27 in tonight's win then put on the @accnetwork headset 🎧 pic.twitter.com/Y6aTsP9WqJ
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) January 19, 2024
With the win, Kelly’s second-consecutive game with 27 points, the 23rd-ranked Tar Heels (13-5, 5-1) jumped Florida State for third place in the ACC.
Though UNC only won by five, it maintained a lead at the end of each quarter. Carolina held a 17-11 advantage after the opening quarter, 2-point lead at halftime and 8-point advantage heading into the final frame.
Alyssa Ustby continued her strong stretch of play, adding 15 points for the Tar Heels. Sophomore guard Teonni Key enjoyed her best game of the year, adding on a season-high 10 points.
UNC will be playing for first place in the ACC on Sunday, as Louisville comes to Carmichael Arena for a 2 p.m. tip-off. The Cardinals (16-2, 5-0) are winners of their past six matchups.
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