Tag: North Carolina Tar Heels Women’s Basketball

Two dominant victories help UNC WBB climb two spots in latest AP Poll

Where did the UNC women’s basketball team land in the latest AP Poll?

If you haven’t watched the UNC women’s basketball team play yet this season, I highly suggest you start now.

North Carolina (9-1) is in the midst of a 6-game winning streak, with its latest victory coming Sunday against Coppin State (72-46). The Tar Heels are showcasing their depth in each game, sometimes rolling as deep as 10 players, while new players are quickly filling the shoes of transfer portal departures.

As a result of their recent success, UNC climbed to 14th in the latest AP Poll, a spot between Big 12 programs Kansas State (13th) and West Virginia (15th). North Carolina was 16th in the previous AP Poll, beginning the Week of Monday, Dec. 2.

Before beating Coppin State on Sunday, the Tar Heels overwhelmed a ranked Kentucky squad, 72-53, on Wednesday during the ACC-SEC Challenge in Chapel Hill. UNC’s current winning streak started back on Saturday, November 23 against Ball State in the Battle 4 Atlantis – and includes a championship victory against Indiana.

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North Carolina’s only loss on the season came to UConn, a National Championship contender led by All-Star Paige Bueckers, back on Nov. 15 in Greensboro, N.C. The Tar Heels’ additional victories include Charleston Southern, UNC-Wilmington, North Carolina A&T, Villanova and North Carolina Central.

UNC is led by fifth-year star forward Alyssa Ustby, who averages 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. North Carolina’s roster also includes a pair of returning starters in guard Lexi Donarski and center Maria Gakdeng, several offseason transfers headlined by Trayanna Crisp, plus star freshmen like 5-star Blanca Thomas.

The Tar Heels can become just the fourth women’s basketball program to reach double-digit wins on Wednesday, Dec. 11, when it welcomes in-state opponent UNC-Greensboro to Carmichael Arena.

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UNC WBB dominates Coppin State on Sunday afternoon, wins sixth-straight

Watch out for the UNC women’s basketball team.

The UNC women’s basketball team continues to prove why it should be seriously considered as one of the country’s best.

North Carolina’s early-season dominance continued on Sunday afternoon inside Carmichael Arena, as it stomped Coppin State, 72-46.

UNC (9-1) scored 46 points alone in the first half, 23 in both the first and second quarters, which ended up being the visiting Eagles’ (6-5) point total.  North Carolina cooled off a bit in the second half, totaling just 26 points (14 in the third quarter, 12 in the fourth), but Coppin State wasn’t able take advantage.

All 13 players on the Tar Heels’ roster saw game action Sunday, with guard Indya Nivar playing a team-high 22 minutes. Maria Gakdeng, UNC’s star center who missed several games earlier this season with injury, was one of 12 Tar Heels to score. Gakdeng turned in a game-high 10 points.

North Carolina dominated Coppin State in virtually every area, but most notably in 3-point percentage, rebounds, assists and points in the paint.

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The Tar Heels shot 46.2 percent from the perimeter, an encouraging sign considering their struggles earlier this season. Lexi Donarski, arguably UNC’s best 3-point shooter, went 3-of-5 from deep.

North Carolina used height to its advantage, out-rebounding Coppin State 49-37. Nivar, Blanca Thomas and Trayanna Crisp each grabbed six boards. The Tar Heels also carried a 22-8 points in the paint advantage.

UNC dished out 18 assists to the visiting Eagles’ six. Nivar and Alyssa Ustby each recorded three assists.

North Carolina will stay home for two more games this week, facing UNC-Greensboro on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. and Georgia Tech on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. in its ACC opener.

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UNC WBB dominates Kentucky from start to finish in ACC-SEC Challenge

The UNC women’s basketball team passed its ACC-SEC Challenge test with little resistance Thursday night.

Watch out, college basketball world. The UNC women’s basketball team is red hot – and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

16th-ranked North Carolina welcomed an undefeated, 14th-ranked Kentucky squad to Carmichael Arena on Wednesday night. The Tar Heels entered winning their past four, while the Wildcats were fresh off a ranked victory over Illinois on Wednesday, November 27.

When the buzzer sounded in Chapel Hill on Thursday night, UNC extended its winning streak to five games and left its home court with a massive, 72-53 victory.

North Carolina (8-1) dominated Kentucky (7-1) in virtually every aspect, but truly made a difference in the paint, with the Tar Heels outscoring the Wildcats 42-10. UNC did this without star freshman Blanca Thomas, who didn’t play for an undisclosed reason.

Reniya Kelly led North Carolina with 18 points and six assists, while Alyssa Ustby poured in 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but Thursday was all about Tar Heels center Maria Gakdeng.

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Playing in her fourth and final collegiate season, Gakdeng scored her 1,000th point in UNC’s big victory. In her fifth start of the year, Gakdeng scored 16 points and led her North Carolina teammates with nine rebounds.

If you watched Thursday’s matchup, you likely saw a former Tar Heel in Kentucky Blue. Teonni Key, the 6’4″ forward who played her first two seasons at UNC, scored seven points and pulled down eight rebounds.

North Carolina had a scoring advantage in the first (21-16), second (15-9) and fourth (22-14) quarters. The Wildcats and Tar Heels each scored 14 points in the third quarter.

Through nine games, North Carolina is tied with California for second in the ACC. With five straight wins and a deeper, talented roster compared to last season, UNC is looking like one of the best early-season teams in college basketball.

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Alyssa Ustby, lockdown defense help UNC WBB advance

The UNC women’s basketball team is playing for a tournament championship on Monday.

Just three weeks into its basketball season, the UNC women’s basketball team will be playing in a championship game.

Thanks to a 53-36 victory over Villanova on Sunday, North Carolina advanced to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game.

The Tar Heels will be facing Indiana at 12 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25. UNC previously beat Ball State on Saturday, while the Hoosiers emerged victorious against Columbia and Baylor.

In North Carolina’s Sunday semifinal victory, players turned in their best defensive performance through six games.

The Tar Heels limited Villanova to 36 points, the Wildcats’ lowest in a game this year and lowest output by a UNC opponent, on just 23.5% field goal shooting. Villanova scored just seven points in the opening quarter and five in the third, while North Carolina’s lowest quarter output was nine in the fourth.

The Tar Heels weren’t lighting it up from the field, but their offense shot a respectable 40 percent.

Alyssa Ustby was UNC’s undisputed star, recording a double-double with 14 points and rebounds apiece. This was Ustby’s highest rebound total in a game this year, plus her second-consecutive game with one, as Ustby notched a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double against Ball State.

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Lexi Donarski joined Ustby in double-figures, scoring 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. 10 different Tar Heels played, with Ustby, Donarski, Indya Nivar and Lanie Grant all recording a minimum 20 minutes.

With the exception of a Friday, Nov. 15 loss against UConn, North Carolina is playing great basketball right now. UNC is ranked, 5-1 to start the season and has a golden opportunity to bring hardware back to Chapel Hill.

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Courtney Banghart and Alyssa Ustby notch milestones

UNC’s Battle 4 Atlantis-opening victory included a couple historical milestones from its head coach and star forward.

Saturday was a pretty special day for the UNC women’s basketball program, which kicked off its journey through the Battle 4 Atlantis.

North Carolina used a 19-point first quarter to create some needed breathing room against Ball State, later beating the Cardinals by a 63-52 margin. The Tar Heels advanced to play Villanova in Sunday’s semifinal matchup, but in the process of Saturday’s victory, they notched a historical market for their head coach.

Courtney Banghart, who took over UNC ahead of the 2019 season, recorded her 100th victory in Chapel Hill with her team’s win over Ball State.

Banghart wasn’t the only Tar Heel to record a milestone, as star forward Alyssa Ustby also snagged her 1000th career rebound.

When Sylvia Hatchell resigned after North Carolina’s 2018-2019 campaign, which included the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in four seasons, North Carolina didn’t have to wait long to find Banghart. UNC went out and hired the longtime Princeton head coach in Banghart, who led her Tiger teams to eight NCAA Tournaments and two Ivy League tournament titles.

The Tar Heels have made the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons under Banghart, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in the 2021-2022 campaign.

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Ustby is one of the most loyal Tar Heels you’ll ever set eyes on, as she’s now playing her fifth season in Chapel Hill. UNC’s win over Ball State was easily Ustby’s best of her final year in Carolina Blue, as she recorded her first double-double of the season, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Ustby has career averages of 12.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, which will only increase as she continues balling out this year.

North Carolina is extremely lucky to have a head coach of Banghart’s caliber – and a player of Ustby’s.

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UNC WBB stays put in latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches’ Poll

Check out where the UNC women’s basketball team landed in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches’ Poll.

The UNC women’s basketball team is still trying to discover its identity through its first four games of the season.

North Carolina beat the teams it should’ve: Charleston Southern, UNC-Wilmington and North Carolina A&T, but struggled early against A&T. The Tar Heels gave second-ranked UConn a good fight, but lost 69-58, falling victim to a big game from Paige Bueckers.

Even with its first loss of the season, UNC stayed put at 15th in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches’ Poll.

North Carolina remained a spot above Kentucky, despite the Wildcats being 5-0, plus a spot behind archrival Duke.

The Tar Heels are off until Saturday, Nov. 23, when they’ll play Ball State in Bahamas’ annual Battle 4 Atlantis. If UNC beats the Cardinals, it’ll take on the winner of Texas A&M and Villanova.

Rank School (Record) Points First Place Votes
1 South Carolina (4-0) 747 28
2 Connecticut (3-0) 716 1
3 Southern California (4-0) 684 1
4 Texas (3-0) 656 –
5 Notre Dame (4-0) 630 –
6 UCLA (4-0) 600 –
7 LSU (5-0) 556 –
8 Iowa State (4-0) 535 –
9 Oklahoma (3-0) 517 –
10 Kansas State (4-0) 477 –
11 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) 425 –
12 West Virginia (4-0) 411 –
13 Maryland (5-0) 401 –
14 Duke (4-1) 325 –
15 North Carolina (3-1) 277 –
16 Kentucky (5-0) 272 –
17 Baylor (3-1) 251 –
18 North Carolina State (2-2) 247 –
19 Nebraska (4-0) 183 –
20 Ole Miss (3-1) 145 –
21 Alabama (6-0) 138 –
22 Louisville (2-2) 113 –
23 Illinois (4-0) 110 –
24 TCU (4-0) 92 –
25 Oregon (24-10) 66 –

North Carolina’s greatest storyline heading into the season was how it’d adjust to life without Deja Kelly, the former star guard who transferred to Oregon. The Tar Heels definitely miss Kelly’s scoring production, but they have plenty of other stars on their roster.

Star forward Alyssa Ustby is off to a slow start, averaging just 8.8 points per game, but she’ll come around soon. Lexi Donarski gives UNC a great perimeter threat again, while Indya Nivar’s return will certainly boost North Carolina’s in-game performance.

Once the Tar Heels starting clicking on all cylinders, they’ll be a tough out in the ACC.

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UNC WBB lands three Class of 2025 prospects on National Signing Day

National Signing Day proved to be a massive win for the UNC women’s basketball program.

The UNC women’s basketball program, particularly in recent seasons, is starting to show why it’s a destination for top high school recruits.

North Carolina landed 5-stars Blanca Thomas and Lanie Grant in its 2024 recruiting class, 5-star Cierra Toomey in its 2023 recruiting class, plus 5-star transfers Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar in that same 2023 class.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, better known as National Signing Day, the Tar Heels continued adding more top-end talent.

Taliyah Henderson and Nyla Brooks, a pair of 5-star small forwards and Taissa Queiroz, a 4-star small forward, all officially signed to play their college basketball in Chapel Hill.

Henderson is Arizona’s top-ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class. According to her 247Sports recruiting profile, she chose UNC over the likes of Maryland, Ohio State and national power Tennessee.

Brooks is Virginia’s top-ranked 2025 prospect. According to her 247Sports recruiting profile, Brooks chose North Carolina over Maryland, Georgia and Tennessee. Brooks actually de-committed from Tennessee to choose the Tar Heels, a sign that something promising is happening in Chapel Hill.

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Taissa Queiroz plays her high school ball at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa, Calif. Queiroz has spent time with the Brazil National Team, exposing herself to top talent from around the world.

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The Tar Heels roster will look significantly different during the 2025-2026 campaign, highlighting why their signing of Henderson, Brooks and Queiroz is ever-more important.

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Grace Townsend, Maria Gakdeng, Alyssa Ustby and Donarski, the latter three of whom are starters, will be out of eligibility. UNC has plenty other projected returners, highlighted by Toomey, Thomas, Trayanna Crisp and Reniya Kelly, but knowing they have more great incoming talent is a huge relief.

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UNC WBB climbs a spot in latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll

Where did the UNC women’s basketball team land in this week’s Coaches Poll?

The North Carolina Tar Heels are off to a strong start in their women’s basketball season, winning their first three games by double-digits.

UNC opened its 2024 slate on Monday, Nov. 4, dominating Charleston Southern in an 83-53 victory. Staying at home last week, North Carolina turned around and smoked UNC-Wilmington, 77-50.

The Tar Heels didn’t make things easy on themselves Tuesday night at North Carolina A&T, but they played extremely well defensively and used a huge second quarter to their advantage, pulling away for a 66-47 victory.

Proving itself early as a potential dangerous squad this year, UNC stayed ranked in the latest USA Today Sports Coaches Poll, rising one spot to 15th. The Tar Heels are a slot above archrival Duke, plus one below Big 10 power Maryland.

Ranking Team Record Points
1 South Carolina Gamecocks 2-0 772 (29)
2 UConn Huskies 2-0 740 (1)
3 USC Trojans 2-0 707 (1)
4 Texas Longhorns 2-0 674
5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1-0 652
6 UCLA Bruins 2-0 598
7 LSU Tigers 2-0 586
8 Iowa State Cyclones 3-0 547
9 Oklahoma Sooners 2-0 516
10 NC State Wolfpack 1-1 476
11 Kansas State Wildcats 2-0 462
12 Ohio State Buckeyes 1-0 439
13 West Virginia Mountaineers 2-0 382
14 Maryland Terrapins 3-0 378
15 North Carolina Tar Heels 2-0 327
16 Duke Blue Devils 2-1 281
17 Baylor Bears 1-1 256
18 Louisville Cardinals 1-1 206
19 Kentucky Wildcats 2-0 165
20 Nebraska Cornhuskers 2-0 158
21 Ole Miss Rebels 1-1 145
22 Alabama Crimson Tide 3-0 123
23 Stanford Cardinal 3-0 99
24 Illinois Fighting Illini 2-0 87
25 South Dakota State Jackrabbits 2-0 50

North Carolina could potentially make a huge jump in next week’s poll, as it prepares to face Paige Bueckers and the 11-time National Champion UConn Huskies. This is UNC’s second-consecutive season facing a title contender in non-conference play, as UNC welcomed the South Carolina Gamecocks to Carmichael Arena in 2023.

Regardless of where the Tar Heels end up in next week’s poll, it’s encouraging to see them with three consecutive wins to start 2024.

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Big second quarter, suffocating defense the difference maker in UNC WBB win over NC A&T

The UNC women’s basketball team passed its first road test on Tuesday evening, beating North Carolina A&T in a closer-than-expected game.

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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UNC dominates UNC-Wilmington, faces former player in Thursday night WBB action

The UNC women’s basketball team picked up another dominant win Thursday night, this time against UNC-Wilmington.

The UNC women’s basketball team stayed at home Thursday night, welcoming in-state rival UNC-Wilmington to Carmichael Arena for a late-week, non-conference clash.

North Carolina blew out Charleston Southern, 83-53, on Monday during the first day of college basketball season.

Thursday night in Chapel Hill was more of the same for the Tar Heels, who arguably played better against UNCW in a 77-50 domination.

Not only was Thursday another big victory for UNC (2-0), but it was a night in which UNC faced a former player from last year’s roster.

Alexandra Zelaya, the 6’4″ forward who started just 4-of-88 games during her four years at North Carolina, started for the Seahawks on Thursday. Zelaya scored four points, grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists in 18 minutes.

Enough about Zelaya – we’re here to tell you about how well the Tar Heels played.

UNC distanced itself plenty at halftime, out-scoring UNCW 40-16 in the first half. North Carolina continued pouring it on in the third quarter, scoring 24 points, with the fourth quarter being the only one where the Seahawks had a scoring advantage.

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For the Tar Heels, it was all about fifth-year guard Lexi Donarski, who led all scorers with 21 points. Donarski, in her second year at North Carolina after transferring from Iowa State, shot 8-of-14 (5-of-11 on 3-pointers) from the field, grabbed four rebounds, stole the ball three times and dished out an assist.

What I find impressive about UNC’s victory, in particular, is that it won in blowout fashion while shooting just 36.5 percent from the field. All 11 Tar Heels who played attempted a shot, with nine of them making one.

North Carolina gets the weekend off before its first road game, Tuesday at 7 p.m., when it makes the short trip out West to Greensboro for a battle with North Carolina A&T.

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