By R.L. Bynum

Unlike some recent seasons, the non-conference women’s basketball home schedule for North Carolina has some sizzle.

UNC released its non-conference women’s basketball schedule Monday, and it’s one of the most challenging in years, dotted with national powers.

The highlight of the home schedule will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, when perennial power South Carolina (36–1 last season) visits Carmichael Arena as part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.

Only one of the other six non-conference opponents had a winning record last season, though.

Carolina opens the season with four November home games, facing Gardner-Webb (29–5) on Nov. 8, Davidson (14–16) on Nov. 12, Hampton (11–18) on Nov. 15 and Elon (9–21) on Nov. 18. There are non-conference home games in December against UNC Greensboro (13–14) on Dec. 6 and against Western Carolina (6–21) on Dec. 15.

Gardner-Webb will mark UNC’s third consecutive opener against an NCAA tournament team from the previous season after facing SWAC champion Jackson State last season and MEAC champion N.C. A&T two seasons ago. The Bulldogs beat High Point 74–61 for the Big South title before losing 103–71 to Utah in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Elon’s coach is Charlotte Smith, who hit the game-winning buzzer-beating 3-pointer to earn UNC the 1994 national championship with a 60–59 victory over Louisiana Tech. Her Carolina No. 23 is retired.

The Gamecocks have won the last two meetings, both in NCAA Sweet 16 games in Greensboro, although the Tar Heels lead the series 11–9. UNC won the last meeting in Chapel Hill 77–73 on Dec. 12, 1987.

North Carolina faces another perennial power in UConn (31–6) at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Dec. 10 in Uncasville, Conn. UNC is also part of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Nov. 24–26, which could include a battle with Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team (31–7) on the event’s third day.

In another challenging matchup, the Tar Heels face Oklahoma (26–7) on Dec. 19 in Charlotte at the second Jumpman Invitational.

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Date	Day/month	Scores	Opponent/event (current ranks)	Record
	October
30	Thursday	L, 91–82	No. 4 South Carolina in Atlanta	Exhib.
	November
3	Monday	W, 90–42	vs. N.C. Central	1–0
6	Thursday	W, 71–37	vs. Elon	2–0
			WBCA Challenge Las Vegas
13	Thursday	L, 78–60	vs. No. 2 UCLA	2–1
15	Saturday	W, 82–68	vs. Fairfield	3–1
			———————————
20	Thursday	W, 85–50	at N.C. A&T	4–1
23	Sunday	W, 94–48	vs. UNCG	5–1
			Cancun Challenge Cancun, Mexico
27	Thursday	W, 83–48	vs. South Dakota St.	6–1
28	Friday	W, 85–73	vs. Kansas State	7–1
29	Saturday	W, 80–63	vs. Columbia	8–1
	December		ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge
4	Thursday	W, 79–64	at No. 3 Texas	8–2
			———————————
7	Sunday	W, 82–40	vs. Boston Univ.	9–2
14	Sunday	L, 76–66, OT	vs. No. 13 Louisville	9–3, 0–1 ACC
17	Wednesday	W, 84–34	vs. UNCW	10–3
21	Sunday	W, 93–74	vs. Charleston Southern	11–3
29	Monday	W, 90–38	at Boston College	12–3, 1–1 ACC
	January
1	Thursday	W, 71–55	vs. California	13–3, 2–1
4	Sunday	L, 77–71, OT	vs. Stanford	13–4, 2–2
11	Sunday	L, 73–50	at No. 22 Notre Dame	13–5, 2–3
15	Thursday	W, 73–62	vs. Miami	14–5, 3–3
18	Sunday	W, 82–55	at Florida State	15–5, 4–3
22	Thursday	W, 54–46	at Georgia Tech	16–5, 5–3
25	Sunday	W, 77–71, OT	vs. Syracuse	17–5, 6–3
	February
2	Monday	W, 61–59	at N.C. State	18–5, 7–3
5	Thursday	W, 53–44	vs. Clemson	19–5, 8–3
8	Sunday	W, 84–56	vs. Wake Forest	20–5, 9–3
12	Thursday	W, 94–42	vs. SMU	21–5, 10–3
15	Sunday	L, 72–68	at No. 8 Duke	21–6, 10–4
19	Thursday	W, 66–63, OT	at Virginia Tech	22–6, 11–4
22	Sunday	W, 78–50	vs. Pittsburgh	23–6, 12–4
26	Thursday	W, 82–70	at Virginia	24–6, 13–4
	March
1	Sunday	W, 72–69	vs. No. 8 Duke	25–6, 14–4
	ACC tournament		Gas South Arena, Duluth, Ga.
6	Friday	W, 85–68	Quarterfinal vs. Va. Tech	26–6
7	Saturday	L, 65–57	Semifinal vs. No. 13 Louisville	26–7
			NCAA tournament Fort Worth 1 Regional
21	Friday	W, 82–51	First round in Chapel Hill: vs. Western Illinois	27–7
23	Sunday	W, 74–66	Second round in Chapel Hill: No. 17 Maryland	28–7
27	Friday	L, 63–52	Sweet 16 in Fort Worth, Texas: vs. No. 1 UConn	28–8

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Projected roster if all players with eligibility other than Elina Aarnisalo, Lanie Grant,, Taliyah Henderson and Liza Ashtakhova and Liza Ashtakhova return, with years listed for next season (UNC is one below the 15-player limit)

Year	No./ Stars		Players	Pos.	Height
Freshman	5 star		Kate Harpring	PG	5–10
Freshman	52/4 star		Noelle Bofia	F	6–4
Sophomore	3		Gabby White — W	G	5–10
Sophomore	7		Nyla Brooks	W	6–1
Sophomore	26		Taissa Queiroz	G	6–1
Junior	34		Blanca Thomas	C	6–5
Junior	1		Jordan Zubich	G	5–11
RS junior	21		Ciera Toomey	F	6–4
RS junior	4		Laila Hull	W	6–1
Senior			Sophie Burrows — X	G	6–2
Senior	11		Achol Akot — Y	F	6–1
Senior	10		Reniya Kelly	G	5–7
Senior	15		Sydney Barker	G	5–6
Graduate	13		Chloe Clardy — Z	G	5–9

WW — Virginia transfer; — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; X — Stanford transfer

Entered transfer portal

Player	Class next season	Pos.	Hgt	Next school
Elina Aarnisalo	Junior	G	5–10	UCLA
Lanie Grant	Junior	G	5–9	TCU
Taliyah Henderson	Sophomore	W	6–1	Clemson
Liza Astakhova	Sophomore	G	6–2	BYU

Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics Communications