Tag: Alyssa Ustby

UNC Women’s Basketball vs. South Carolina: Game preview, info, prediction and more

The UNC women’s basketball program is hosting top-ranked South Carolina on Thursday, Nov. 30 as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge.

When a college basketball game features the University of North Carolina, it’s typically the Tar Heels who sport a top-ranked team.

In the case on Thursday, Nov. 30, it’s the exact opposite.

While the UNC women are enjoying a solid start to their 2023-2024 campaign, sitting at 5-2 and ranked 24th in the latest AP Poll, their next opponent is perhaps the greatest in women’s college basketball.

You guessed it – South Carolina.

The Gamecocks, who sport the game’s best coach (Dawn Staley) and arguably most talented roster, will find themselves at Carmichael Arena on Thursday night as part of the newly-developed, ACC-SEC Challenge.

This game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

South Carolina, the 2017 and 2022 National Championships who our friends down south claim is the “real” Carolina, currently sits at 5-0. The Gamecocks have already beaten two ranked teams (18th-ranked Notre Dame, formerly 14th-ranked Maryland), plus they obliterated Mississippi Valley State on Thanksgiving Friday, 101-19.

The Tar Heels are facing a bit of heartbreak and a mini cold stretch, losing their past two to Kansas State and Florida Gulf Coast. They are led by returners Deja Kella and Alyssa Ustby, two of the best at their respective positions, plus they sport a few solid transfers in Maria Gakdeng, Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar.

While South Carolina is expected to win big, any rivalry game brings out the best in both teams. What can the real Carolina do in hopes of pulling off an upset?

Cold first quarter dooms Tar Heels in Gulf Coast Showcase vs. KSU

In the Gulf Coast Showcase, UNC’s women’s basketball team watched a first quarter doom it against a strong, tall Kansas State opponent.

In the UNC women’s basketball team’s first five games of 2023, it had little trouble beating opponents.

The Tar Heels won all five games, with their closest victory being a 54-51 clash against Vermont on Friday, Nov. 24 in the Gulf Coast Classic.

Saturday wasn’t as easy.

In its second game of the Gulf Coast Showcase, 18-ranked Carolina watched an 8-point first quarter doom itself in a 63-56 loss to 16-ranked Kansas State.

The Tar Heels outscored the Wildcats, 48-47, in the final three quarters.

The first thing that stands out, to me, is the rebounding margin. Kansas State out-rebounded UNC by a 46-25 mark, with 6’6″ center Ayoka Lee grab 12 as part of a double-double.

Alyssa Ustby, Carolina’s star guard/forward, grabbed nine rebounds. No other Tar Heel grabbed more than two, while five Wildcats pulled down at least five.

UNC also shot a torrid 10 percent (2-of-20) from downtown. Kansas State didn’t fare much better, with a 5-for-17 mark, but those extra three perimeter makes proved to be the difference.

One area the Tar Heels did perform extremely well in was steals, swiping the ball 13 times to the Wildcats’ two. Carolina star Deja Kelly, who stole the basketball a team-high five times, also anchored her team’s scoring attack with 14 points.

Kelly and Kayla McPherson (11 points) were the only two Tar Heels in double-figures, while Serena Sundell (16), Gisela Sanchez (15) and Lee (14) all reached the 10-point mark.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for UNC. After its tournament finale on Sunday, Nov. 26, it hosts top-ranked South Carolina on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

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Two Tar Heels named to Preseason Watch List for prestigious award

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are the UNC women’s basketball team’s best players. Not even two weeks in, they’re both on an award watch list.

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are the two most integral parts of the UNC women’s basketball team.

The pair both made the Preseason All-ACC team and were named captains for this season. Kelly and Ustby, Carolina’s two best players, will look to help UNC advanced past the Round of 32 in this coming year’s NCAA Tournament.

Carolina is already off to a 2-0 start this year, blowing out Gardner-Webb in the opener and barely squeaking by Davidson on Sunday. Kelly’s scored in double-digits both games, while Ustby nearly recorded a double-doubly on Sunday.

Not even a full two weeks into the season, UNC’s star Senior duo is already on the John R. Wooden Award Watch List. This annual award goes to the best player in college basketball.

Kelly and Ustby are on this list with several of the sport’s best – JuJu Watkins (USC), Hailey Van Lith and Angel Reese (both at LSU).

With a couple transfers and lots of experience returning to Chapel Hill this year, Kelly and Ustby are hoping to help Carolina capture its second-ever NCAA championship.

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Three UNC Women’s Basketball players earn ACC Preseason Honors

Deja Kelly, Alyssa Utsby and Lexi Donarski are going to be integral to the UNC women’s basketball team’s success this year.

There’s a lot of hype in Chapel Hill right now – it mainly has to do with the upcoming start of basketball season.

A lot of that basketball attention should be focused on the UNC women’s basketball program, who has not one or two – but three players with preseason honors.

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, both of Carolina’s team captains, were named Preseason All-ACC. Lexi Donarski, the Iowa State transfer, was named to the ACC Newcomer Watch List.

Kelly and Utsby, both seniors, will unfortunately be playing their final year in Chapel Hill. Kelly is the Tar Heels’ leading returning scorer (16.5 points per game), while Utsby returns 13.2 points per game (second-most) and a team-high 233 rebounds from last year (8.3 RPG).

Kelly and Utsby will almost surely give UNC that 1-2 punch that so many teams covet. Kelly’s going to be the primary ball-handler and scorer, whether she decides to spot up from deep or drive the lane, like so many players do nowadays. Utsby will likely be spotting up down low, looking to either clean up a rare Kelly miss or back opponents down for an easy two.

Donarski was ranked as one of the transfer portal’s top players. Not only is she bringing 13.2 points per game with her, but she is also the Big 12’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year. She’ll replace the production of Kennedy Todd-Williams, who transferred to Ole Miss in the offseason.

Fans will get to see the Tar Heels in action shortly, as they host Gardner-Webb in their season-opener on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. ET.

UNC women’s basketball schedule now complete

The UNC women’s basketball team can begin making final preparations for its season, as its ACC schedule was announced on Tuesday.

It was a tough ending last year for the UNC women’s basketball team, which came seconds away from an upset of Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.

The Tar Heels were one of seven ACC schools to reach double-digits in conference wins, along with Miami, Louisville, Florida State, Duke, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. UNC was one of eight to make the Big Dance.

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby headline this year’s roster, which has a young look with seven underclassmen.

Carolina can now officially begin make game preparations, as its ACC schedule was released on Tuesday.

UNC opens up its season against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Carmichael Arena. The Tar Heels stay at home through Thanksgiving Break, when they head to Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase.

After concluding its non-conference schedule with a neutral-site matchup against Oklahoma in the Tuesday, Dec. 19 Jumpman Invitational, Carolina hosts Clemson at noon on New Years’ Eve to open up ACC play. The Tar Heels play an even nine conference games at home and on the road, concluding with a visit from archrival Duke on Sunday, March 3.

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UNC WBB name their team captains for the 2023-2024 season

The North Carolina women’s basketball program announces their team captains for the 2023-2024 season.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program is ramping up as the season gets near, and we now know who will be the two captains for the upcoming year.

Seniors [autotag]Deja Kelly[/autotag] and [autotag]Alyssa Ustby[/autotag] will serve as captains this year for UNC, bringing their experience and skill to the forefront. Both Tar Heels have significantly contributed to the program’s success and are regarded as top players in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Kelly has started 87 of 88 games in three seasons with UNC, averaging 15 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 32.3 minutes per game. Ustby has started 77 of 84 games for the Tar Heels, averaging 12 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 31 minutes per game.

The Tar Heels are scheduled to kick off its season on November 8th against Gardner Webb in Chapel Hill. With Kelly and Ustby leading the charge, expect a prepared team looking to make a big splash in the NCAA this year.

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Women’s basketball prepared to face tough competition in Thanksgiving tourney

The UNC women’s basketball team, coming off its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, will play in a Thanksgiving tournament this year.

The University of North Carolina women’s basketball team came within a couple points of upsetting Ohio State and moving onto the Sweet 16 in last year’s NCAA tournament.

Carolina clawed back from a double-digit deficit to take a late lead, only for Ohio State’s Jacy Shelton to sink a game-winner with seconds remaining and ending all hope for Tar Heels fans. The third-seeded Buckeyes won, 71-69.

This year, UNC is hoping to finally make a push for the Sweet 16 and possibly more. It’d be a fourth-straight NCAA appearance, something not done since a string of eight straight from 2002-2009.

The Heels will be tested early in the season, as they head to Florida’s Gulf Coast over Thanksgiving Weekend for the Clean Simple Eats Gulf Coast Showcase from Friday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Nov. 26.

Carolina’s first matchup of the 3-day Holiday tournament is against Vermont (Friday, Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m.). This is the two teams’ first time playing each other. Vermont, which won the America East Conference Tournament last year, lost to national power UConn in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Also in the field is Kansas State and Western Kentucky, Florida Gulf Coast, Delaware, Iowa and Purdue-Fort Wayne. Iowa lost in the 2023 NCAA Championship game to Angel Reese-led LSU.

Carolina, led by two All-ACC selections in Deja Kelly and Alyssa Utsby, will almost certainly be tested in this early-season tourney.

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Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby earn All-America honorable mention

North Carolina Tar Heels Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby earn All-America honorable mentions.

North Carolina women’s basketball players [autotag]Deja Kelly[/autotag] and [autotag]Alyssa Ustby[/autotag] have been named honorable mentions for All-America. Both Tar Heels were pivotal in UNC’s success this season and rightfully have received high praise for their play this season.

Kelly was North Carolina’s top scorer, tying her career high for points averaged in a season with 16.5 per game. This is Kelly’s second straight year receiving this honorable mention showcasing another consistent season.

On the other hand, Ustby was the team leader in rebounds, averaging 8.3 rebounds. Despite missing five games, Ustby finished with 233 total rebounds, 45 more than the next Tar Heel.

The North Carolina women’s basketball season might not have ended as they had hoped. However, they were still welcomed with applause for a hard-fought season, with a lot of credit going to Kelly and Ustby.

Both Tar Heels will be back in Chapel Hill next season, pending any last-minute changes, and should be a shoe for the award in 2023-2024.

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Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are WBCA All-America finalists

Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby are WBCA All-America finalists for the 2022-2023 season.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program season did not end as they hoped, but there is no denying the impact team leaders Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby had this season.

Both Tar Heels have been named WBCA All-America finalists for their region. The other finalists include Georgia Amoore, Sonia Citron, Dyaisha Fair, Abbey Hsu, Diamond Johnson, Elizabeth Kitley, Ta’Niya Latson, Olivia Miles, Celeste Taylor, and Hailey Van Lith.

Kelly led UNC scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. She also displayed ball-hawking skills, averaging 1.3 steals per game. Ustby, on the other hand, was North Carolina’s leader when it came to hitting the glass leading the team with 8.3 rebounds per game. Ustby also showed her ability to score, averaging 13.2 points per game.

The announcement on if Kelly and Ustby will make the final cut for WBCA All-America is expected to be released later this month.

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Alyssa Ustby named to All-ACC first team

North Carolina Tar Heel Alyssa Ustby has been named to the All-ACC first team.

North Carolina women’s basketball star [autotag]Alyssa Ustby[/autotag] has been named to the All-ACC first team, joining teammate Deja Kelly.

Ustby has been the ideal player for Courtney Banghart, giving UNC a player who can do it on both ends of the court. She has played an enormous role in North Carolina’s success, starting 73 of 80 games since 2019.

This year has been one of Ustbys’ best, with a career-best 13.2 points per game while averaging a career-high 51% from the field. Utsby’s ability to hit the glass has also seen consistency, leading UNC with 8.7 rebounds per game.

Ustby did spend some time on the sidelines this season, making the first-team nod even more special. She was sidelined due to injury, and the team felt her void going 2-3 in games played without her

Ustby has since returned to the court and already looks like herself. In North Carolina’s 45-41 win against Duke, Ustby finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and three steals.

UNC will be counting on Utsby this postseason as they look to chase gold.

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