By R.L. Bynum
The overtime heartbreak ended on a chilly afternoon before a small crowd at Carmichael Arena.
After North Carolina dropped two ACC home games earlier this season in overtime, it looked ominous when Syracuse erased an eight-point UNC lead in the final 3½ minutes of regulation.
This time, the Tar Heels owned overtime on a day that few fans could be there in person because of the wintry weather.
UNC responded in overtime and pulled out a 77–71 victory over the Orange for only the fourth overtime win under Coach Courtney Banghart. It was the Tar Heels’ best win of the season by NET ranking, with Syracuse entering the day at No. 40.
“This team is really, really, really trying to be really good, and sometimes it’s a little painful, and sometimes they take steps forward. Today was a step forward,” Banghart said in a postgame interview on the Tar Heel Sports Network. There was no postgame press conference.
Carolina (17–5, 6–3 ACC) had earlier lost home games in overtime to No. 8 Louisville 76–66 on Dec. 14 and to Stanford 77–71 on Jan. 4. This time, a Lanie Grant jumper, UNC’s first field goal in 4½ minutes, was followed by a Nyla Harris three-point play during a 7–0 Tar Heels run to take a 75–68 lead with 2:18 left in overtime. Syracuse came no closer than five points after that.
The Tar Heels extended their win streak to four games behind big performances from Harris (21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals; her third double-double of the season and 11th of her career), Grant (17 points, a career‑high five 3‑pointers), Reniya Kelly (11 points, 5 assists, 2 steals) and Indya Nivar (10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists).
“We are better when we’re aggressive. I thought against Georgia Tech, we missed shots, but we also were a little stagnant,” Banghart said of Thursday’s win in Atlanta. “So, much better offensive output for sure.”
Carolina made all three free-throw attempts in overtime and 14 of 16 in the game. UNC is 45 of 52 in the last three games (86.5%).
Syracuse (16–4, 6–3) struggled against UNC’s zone but stayed in the game with 19 offensive rebounds, the most the Tar Heels have given up all season (previous high was 14 in the loss at Notre Dame). The Orange, who suffered their first road loss of the season, were led by freshman Uche Izoje’s 27 points and 12 rebounds.
“Holy moly, is she good,” Banghart said of Izoje.
Banghart praised UNC’s post defenders.
“They were vertical. They gave a foul when they needed to. Everyone brought their piece today,” Banghart said.
Grant helped UNC to a 19–15 lead after one quarter with nine points on three 3-pointers. Syracuse tied the game with four free throws to start the second, then took its first lead at 28–27 late in the half. After trading baskets, Nivar’s layup with 59 seconds left sent the game to halftime tied at 34.
The teams traded leads early in the third quarter until Kelly’s 3-pointer and a Harris bucket created separation.
After two more Izoje baskets tied it again, Grant hit two 3-pointers during a 13–4 run that pushed the margin to nine. UNC’s offense surged in that stretch, which Banghart attributed to better decisions with the ball.
“Ball control,” she said. “We took care of the ball better.”
Syracuse ended the third quarter with an 8–2 run to cut UNC’s lead to 59–55.
After Kelly’s early fourth‑quarter basket, UNC went scoreless until Ciera Toomey’s 3-pointer sparked a 7–0 run that restored an eight-point lead with 3:34 left. But the Tar Heels committed nine fourth-quarter turnovers, and Syracuse scored the final eight points of regulation to force overtime, tying it on a Sophie Burrows free throw with 1:04 to go.
Banghart appreciated both the grit and the atmosphere, even with a small crowd, listed as 467.
“First off, thanks for all these people that came,” she said. “As I scan Carmichael, I’m just really grateful because there was a lot of energy in the gym for a very small number of people.”
Notes
— Carolina gets more than a week off before visiting N.C. State on Monday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. (ESPN2). The Wolfpack (14–6, 7–2) won 78–76 in overtime Saturday in Virginia in a game played right after the UNC men beat the Cavaliers. State plays at Boston College at 6 p.m. Thursday.
— The Tar Heels committed 20 turnovers, the most in a win this season. The season-high was 21 in the Jan. 11 loss at Notre Dame.
— Grant’s previous best 3-pointers output was four, which she had done three times, most recently on Jan. 18 against Florida State.
— UNC, now 1–5 against teams in the top 40 in the NET rankings, wore throwback uniforms.
— The Tar Heels have won three consecutive games against Syracuse for the first time since the Orange joined the ACC, to tie the all-time series 9–9.
— When the game moved from 2 p.m. to noon, the broadcast on The CW was canceled. Instead, there was a single-camera broadcast on ACC Network Extra with no announcers.
— Carolina rebounded from a 4-for-18 game from 3-point range against Georgia Tech to shoot 37.4% from outside the arc (9 of 24).
— Syracuse was 3 of 20 from 3-point range (15%), the sixth time this season that a UNC opponent has shot lower than 16% from outside the arc.
—The “Holding Court With Courtney Banghart” radio show will air at 8 p.m. Monday on WCHL and will be available to stream on Tuesday morning, but will not be recorded at the Sheraton Chapel Hill. The show will return there at noon on Feb. 9.
UNC 77, Syracuse 71, OT
| Team | League | Overall | NET* |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 8 Louisville | 9–0 | 19–3 | 8 |
| No. 21 Duke | 9–0 | 14–6 | 15 |
| N.C. State | 7–2 | 14–6 | 27 |
| North Carolina | 6–3 | 17–5 | 21 |
| Virginia Tech | 6–3 | 16–5 | 41 |
| Syracuse | 6–3 | 16–4 | 40 |
| Virginia | 6–3 | 14–6 | 38 |
| Clemson | 5–4 | 14–7 | 42 |
| Notre Dame | 5–4 | 13–7 | 28 |
| Stanford | 4–3 | 15–5 | 36 |
| Miami | 3–5 | 11–8 | 45 |
| Georgia Tech | 3–5 | 8–12 | 92 |
| California | 2–5 | 11–9 | 58 |
| Wake Forest | 2–6 | 12–8 | 121 |
| Florida State | 2–6 | 7–13 | 104 |
| SMU | 1–7 | 8–12 | 179 |
| Pittsburgh | 1–8 | 8–14 | 261 |
| Boston College | 0–9 | 4–18 | 254 |
* — Through Saturday games
Saturday’s results
No. 8 Louisville 85, Boston College 56
N.C. State 78, Virginia 76, OT
No. 21 Duke 95, Pittsburgh 41
Virginia Tech 85, Wake Forest 57
Sunday’s games
North Carolina 77, Syracuse 71, OT
Clemson 65, Notre Dame 58
Miami at SMU, 4 p.m., ACCN Extra
Georgia Tech at Florida State, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Stanford at California, 6 p.m., ACC Network
Thursday’s games
Virginia at Wake Forest, 6 p.m., ACCN Extra
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech, 6 p.m., ACCN Extra
Georgia Tech at Syracuse, 6 p.m., ACCN Extra
N.C. State at Boston College, 6 p.m., ACC Network
SMU at Clemson, 7 p.m., ACCN Extra
No. 8 Louisville at Stanford, 8 p.m., ESPN
No. 21 Duke at Miami, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Notre Dame at California, 10 p.m., ACCN Extra
Sunday, Feb. 1, games
Wake Forest at No. 21 Duke, noon, ACC Network
No 8 Louisville at California, 1 p.m.
Virginia at Virginia Tech, 2 p.m., ACCN Extra
Syracuse at Miami, 2 p.m., ACCN Extra
Boston College at Georgia Tech, 2 p.m., ACC Network
Notre Dame at Stanford, 4 p.m.
Florida State at Clemson, 4 p.m., ACC Network
Monday, Feb. 2, game
North Carolina at N.C. State, 6 p.m., ESPN2
| Date | Day/month | Time | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | ||||
| 30 | Thursday | L, 91–82 | No. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Texas | 8–2 |
| ——————————— | ||||
| 7 | Sunday | W, 82–40 | vs. Boston Univ. | 9–2 |
| 14 | Sunday | L, 76–66, OT | vs. No. 8 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 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 | 6 p.m. | at N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 5 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | vs. Clemson | ACCN |
| 8 | Sunday | 2 p.m. | vs. Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 12 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | vs. SMU | ACCN |
| 15 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | at No. 21 Duke | ABC |
| 19 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | at Virginia Tech | ACCN |
| 22 | Sunday | Noon | vs. Pittsburgh | ACCN |
| 26 | Thursday | 7 p.m. | at Virginia | ACCN Extra |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | Noon | vs. No. 21 Duke | ESPN |
| ACC tournament | ||||
| 4–8 | Wed.-Sun | Gas South Arena, Duluth, Ga. | ||
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| 20–24 | Fri.-Mon. | First, second rounds | ||
| 27–30 | Fri.-Mon. | Regionals Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, Calif. | ||
| April | ||||
| 3, 5 | Fri., Sun | Final Four Phoenix |
Photos courtesy of UNC Athletics
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