By R.L. Bynum
Deja Kelly led Oregon to the biggest upset, and Destiny Adams produced two of the most impressive individual efforts during the season’s first week.
Kelly scored 13 of her team-high 20 points in the second half as the unranked Ducks (3–0) blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead before holding on for a 76–74 home victory Sunday night over No. 12 Baylor (1–1) to snap a 14-game losing streak against ranked teams.
It was the first win over a ranked team for Oregon, which went 11–21 last season, since beating No. 14 Arizona 73–59 on Feb. 23, 2023. The Ducks lost all 13 games against ranked teams last season.
“I think we really stayed solid throughout the game,” Kelly said. “They went on their run. I think we stayed really level-headed. That’s where our experience showed up. All of us, as a whole, we know that we had to lock down and buckle down on the defensive end as well as get good shots on the offensive end. So I’m really proud of how we fought.”
After flirting with a triple-double last week, Kelly nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. She scored six of Oregon’s 14 fourth-quarter points and four of its last six.
It was the 34th game with at least 20 points in 124 career games for Kelly, who scored 21 in Wednesday’s 76–58 home win over Nevada.
In a team huddle after the game, Kelly praised her teammates.
“I said I was really just proud of our fight,” Kelly said. “I said I was really proud of our collective effort. Everybody brought their piece. Whether someone played 20 minutes, whether someone played zero, everyone brought their piece. I think that’s super important to win games like these. But it’s only game three, so we just got to continue to build off of it.”
Kelly’s layup with 1:06 left tied it at 74 after a 7–0 Baylor run gave the Bears a two-point edge, their first lead since the last five minutes of the first half. Former Siena guard Elisa Mevius, one of several Oregon newcomers, took a baseline pass from Kelly and scored off of a screen on a drive with 22 seconds left for the game-winner.
“The goal was just to get a good look, whether that was myself, whether that was me and [Alexis Whitfield] on the two-man or just making a play,” Kelly said. “They were being really aggressive at the point of the screen or ghost that we were doing. I knew that we’re gonna have our two guards on the opposite side. And Elisa made a great play herself.”
Whitfield, a fifth-year former UC Santa Barbara forward, added 16 points and five rebounds for Oregon.
Adams is off to an incredible start for Rutgers (3–0), and has 66 points and 37 rebounds in the last two games.
In Thursday’s 72–61 win over Cornell, Adams collected 30 points, 15 rebounds and two steals. In 35 minutes of the Scarlet Knights’ 94–84 Sunday win over NJIT, she had more than a point a minute with a career-high 36 points, 22 rebounds (including a career-high 14 offensive rebounds) and two blocks for a career-high 32.7 game score. All that production came despite battling foul trouble, with four fouls in each game.
Her previous career scoring high was 31 points last season on March 3 in a Big Ten Tournament loss to Minnesota, when she pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds. It’s the first time in 96 career games that she’s collected at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in consecutive games.
Dawson Garcia’s senior season is off to a good start for 2–0 Minnesota. Garcia followed up a 30-point game in the Gophers’ opener with 24 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes during Saturday’s 68–64 home win over Omaha.
D’Marco Dunn came off the bench Friday to score 16 points in 19 minutes with two 3-pointers and three rebounds and was +33 in Penn State’s 103–54 home Friday win over UMBC. Puff Johnson started and had nine points, eight rebounds and two steals in 23 minutes for the Nittany Lions (2–0).
Caleb Love scored 10 points with two 3-pointers and three rebounds in No. 10 Arizona’s 102–44 Saturday home win over Old Dominion to go 2–0.
For the second straight game for 2–0 N.C. State, Dontrez Styles started and scored nine points. Styles had six rebounds and two blocks in Friday’s 81–72 home win over Presbyterian.
Kerwin Walton scored 11 points and a team-high three 3-pointers Friday as Texas Tech (2–0) rolled to an 86–65 victory over Northwestern State.
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Vanderbilt moved to 2–0 with an 85–76 home win Sunday over Southeast Missouri State. Tyler Nickel, who has started both games, scored 11 points and two 3-pointers and pulled down eight rebounds.
After Teonni Key scored a career-high 14 points in No. 22 Kentucky’s opener, she had four points, three rebounds, and three blocks in 21 minutes of the Wildcats’ 70–41 home Thursday win over Northern Kentucky to go 2–0.
No. 20 Ole Miss rebounded from its opening-game loss in Paris to USC with an 85–24 home romp Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but Kennedy Todd-Williams is off to a rough shooting start. She had six points on 1 of 9 shooting and is 3 of 27 through two games, including missing all seven 3-point attempts. She pulled down 10 rebounds and had two assists, two steals and a block and was +41 in Sunday’s win, though.
After only scoring four points in her emotional return to Chapel Hill for UNCW’s 77–50 Thursday loss to No. 15 North Carolina, Ali Zelaya put up a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in the 1–2 Seahawks’ home opener, a 79–42 win over Clinton College. She was UNCW’s player of the game.
James Okonkwo, who has started both games for 1–1 Akron, collected 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the Zips’ 88–57 home Friday win over Ohio Wesleyan.
Paulina Paris is off to a tough shooting start, but Arizona is 3–0. Paris has started all three games, scoring five points each in Thursday’s 62–39 home win over Tarleton State and Sunday’s 65–54 win at UC San Diego. She is shooting 28.6% from the floor and 2 of 10 from 3-point range, averaging 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
In 2–0 Clemson’s 91–33 Thursday home romp over N.C. Central, Anya Poole came off the bench to pull down seven rebounds, block three shots and dish out three assists with two points in 14 minutes. She has five blocks in two games.
RyLee Grays had three points and three rebounds before fouling out in 12 minutes of Virginia’s 95–51 Friday loss at No. 10 Oklahoma.
UAB moved to 2–1 with an 82–72 Sunday home win over Southeastern Louisiana, but Will Shaver still hasn’t made his season debut.
Men’s players
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 starts, 11.0 points, 8–16 FG, 4–10 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Friday — Oklahoma State 118, Queens 68 (home) | didn’t start: 16 minutes, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 assists, 1 steal, +31
Thursday — 8 p.m. at Texas A&M, SECN+
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 9.0 points, 52.2 FG%, 0–2 3P, 37.5 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 blocks, 4 steals
Record — 1–2
Monday — Penn 78, Howard 65 (road) | started: 23 minutes, 4 points, 2–7 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, 2 blocks (season-low point total after combining for 23 points in the first two games)
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. Stetson
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 7.5 points, 4–16 FG, 1–9 3FG, 6–9 FT, 1.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 5.0 turnovers, 2.0 steals
Record — 1–1
Friday — No. 4 UConn 84, No. 16 Michigan 77 (in Boston) | started: 28 minutes, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 fouls, 5 turnovers, -10
Wednesday — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Marquette, FS1
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Record — 2–1
Season statistics — 3 games, [confirm starts], 13.0 points, 41.2 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 4–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals
Tuesday — No. 12 Arizona 90, Northern Arizona 59 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 12 points, 5–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, +19, season-high 9.4 game score
Friday — 9 p.m. at Auburn, ESPN2
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.6 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Record — 3–0
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 12.7 points, 15–37 FG, 5–17 3FG, 3–5 FT, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.0 turnovers, 1.3 steals
Monday — Minnesota 63, Cincinnati 61 (road) | started: 39 minutes, 26 points, 11–19 FG, 3–8 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 fouls, 7 turnovers, 1 steal, 18.0 game score (second-highest of his career behind 21.9 for Colorado State against Memphis on March 21, 2025: 23 points, 6 3-pointers, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals)
Thursday — 8 p.m. vs. Southern, B1G+
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 15.5 points, 65.0 FG%, 2–4 3FG, 3–5 FT, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Record — 1–1
Thursday — DePaul 82, South Florida 80 (road) | started: 24 minutes, 11 points, 4–5 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Wednesday — 3 p.m. vs. Saint Joseph’s in Annapolis, Md., CBS Sports Network
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 16.0 points, 54.2 FG%, 46.2 3P%, 2.5 rebounds
Record — 2–0
Sunday — St. John’s 104, Iona 65 (Madison Square Garden) | started: 20:10, 17 points, 7–12 FG, 3–8 3FG, 3 rebounds, +20
Wednesday — 7 p.m. vs. Colgate at Carnesecca Arena, Peacock
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Record — 3–0
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 15.3 points, 69.0 FG%, 4–5 3FG, 2–4 FT, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.7 turnovers, 2 double-doubles
Tuesday — N.C. State 94, Presbyterian 60 (home) | [confirm start/minutes]: 21 points, 10–17 FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 4 turnovers, 2 blocks (double-double), 14.2 game score
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. Troy, ACC Network
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Record — 2–0 (he didn’t play in either game)
Saturday — Pacific 63, Bradley 52 (road) | didn’t play
Wednesday — 10 p.m. at Long Beach State, ESPN+
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.4 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 12.2 points, 39.4 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 1–5 FT, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assist, 1.7 turnovers, 2.0 assists
Record — 3–0
Sunday — Pittsburgh 82, Penn State 76 (at The Palestra in Philadelphia) | started: 40 minutes, 13 points, 5–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1–3 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assist, 1 turnover, 5 steals
Friday — 6:30 at Butler, Peacock
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Record — 1–1
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 15.5 points, 65 FG%, 3–5 3FG, 2–4 FT, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 blocks
Saturday — UNLV 88, Samford 79 (road) | started: 25:35, 14 points, 6–10 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–4 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, -8
Friday — 8 p.m. vs. Wright State, ESPN+
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 12.0 points, 45.0 FG%, 22.2 3P%, 44.4 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 1.5 steals
Saturday — No. 11 Louisville 107, Morehead State 57 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 11 points, 5–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
Sunday, Nov. 15 — 1 p.m. at Memphis, ESPN
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
Women’s players
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.8 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 11.5 points, 42.8 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 2–2 FT, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 turnovers
Record — 2–0
Thursday — No. 11 UCLA 78, UC Irvine 42 | started: 26 minutes, 14 points, 5–12 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Arizona
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Season statistics — 1 game, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5 rebounds
Record — 3–0
Saturday — BYU 97, Montana 53 (home) | didn’t play
Wednesday — 4 p.m. vs. Bethune-Cookman
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Season statistics — 4 games, 4 starts, 11.0 points, 45.5 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 5–6 FT, 1.0 rebound, 3.3 assists
Record — 4–0
Tuesday — No. 15 TCU 78, Iona 53 (home) | started: 31 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–8 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, season-low 4.6 game score
Thursday — 7:30 p.m. vs. Southeastern Louisiana, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Record: 1–1
Saturday (season debut) — Tulsa 67, Rogers State 40 (home) | 8 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers,
Thursday — 6 p.m. vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State, ESPNU
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 0 starts, 344 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 21 steals, 1 block
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 11.3 points, 40.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 8–10 FT, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 2.0 steals
Record — 3–0
Sunday — Clemson 72, UNCG 44 | started: 20:17, 9 points, 1–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6–6 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 3 turnovers
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. No. 1 South Carolina, ESPN2
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Top photo via @OregonWBB; Adams photo via @RutgersWBB
