By R.L. Bynum
After putting up season-high numbers of 22 points, six 3-pointers and five steals in her first college start, Sunday’s 69–58 victory at Clemson, North Carolina freshman Paulina Paris is the ACC Rookie of the Week.
The Congers, N.Y., freshman averaged 13.5 points and shot 42.9% in No. 11 Carolina’s two road wins, collecting five points, five rebounds and three assists in Thursday’s 72–57 win against Pittsburgh.
“That kid is so solid; she’s so consistent and she just lets the game come to her,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said Monday on her radio show. “I just really trust Paulina with the ball in her hands with the decisions that she makes and, most importantly, she trusts herself. She really believes in herself. “
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
Paris is only the second player for UNC to earn a weekly ACC honor this season after junior guard Deja Kelly was named the ACC Player of the Week on Nov. 28.
This is only the third time this season that a player other than Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson has earned the Rookie of the Week honor. Boston College’s Taina Mair won it on Jan. 9 and Georgia Tech’s Tonie Morgan earned the honor on Jan. 23.
Sunday’s game was Paris’ fifth scoring in double figures after she scores 13 vs. Jackson State, 15 against USC Upstate, 15 against Virginia Tech and 16 against Notre Dame. Before going 6 of 12 from 3-point range against the Tigers, her best perimeter game was 3 of 5 against USC Upstate and 3 of 4 against the Irish.
Her best steal totals before Sunday were three against Jackson State and four against South Carolina State.
| Team | League | Overall | NET* | WAB* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 13 Duke | 16–2 | 21–8 | 10 | 13 |
| No. 12 Louisville | 15–3 | 25–6 | 13 | 10 |
| No. 16 North Carolina | 14–4 | 25–6 | 19 | 14 |
| N.C. State | 13–5 | 20–9 | 23 | 27 |
| Syracuse | 12–6 | 22–7 | 40 | 31 |
| Virginia Tech | 12–6 | 22–8 | 41 | 34 |
| Notre Dame | 12–6 | 20–9 | 24 | 23 |
| Clemson | 11–7 | 20–10 | 44 | 40 |
| Virginia | 11–7 | 19–10 | 36 | 49 |
| California | 9–9 | 18–13 | 53 | 60 |
| Stanford | 8–10 | 19–12 | 42 | 56 |
| Miami | 8–10 | 16–13 | 58 | 65 |
| Georgia Tech | 7–10 | 12–17 | 76 | 109 |
| Florida State | 5–13 | 10–20 | 107 | 138 |
| Wake Forest | 4–14 | 14–16 | 121 | 134 |
| SMU | 2–16 | 9–21 | 220 | 209 |
| Pittsburgh | 1–17 | 8–23 | 262 | 238 |
| Boston College | 1–17 | 5–26 | 247 | 283 |
* — Through Sunday games
Thursday’s results
No. 16 North Carolina 82, Virginia 70
No. 12 Louisville 69, Georgia Tech 50
Notre Dame 72, Syracuse 62
Miami 79, Pittsburgh 58
N.C. State 65, Wake Forest 58
No. 13 Duke 80, Florida State 52
Stanford 87, SMU 57
Clemson 70, California 63
Sunday’s results
No. 16 North Carolina 74, No. 13 Duke 69
Virginia Tech 83, Virginia 82
Georgia Tech 79, Miami 49
N.C. State 93, Pittsburgh 43
Stanford 85, Clemson 50
Syracuse 90, Boston College 65
Notre Dame 65, No. 12 Louisville 62
Florida State 77, Wake Forest 74, OT
California 78, SMU 34
End of regular season
ACC tournament
Gas South Arena
Duluth, Ga.
March 4–8
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications
