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Regardless of the opponent, winning on the road in the ACC is a challenge, and teams don’t worry too much about style points as long as they can get a win.
That was the case for No. 23 North Carolina on Thursday, which weathered some rough offensive stretches but rode tough defense and finished strong to escape Atlanta with a 73–68 victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday at McCamish Pavilion.
It isn’t often that a two-year starting center enters her senior season and suddenly has to adjust to coming off the bench. That became Anya Poole’s plight after Carolina brought in junior transfer Maria Gakdeng from Boston College in the offseason. The 6–3 center has started every game this season for the No. 23 Tar Heels.
No. 4 North Carolina continues to rise in men’s bracket projections, while a women’s projection suggests the No. 23 Tar Heels have work to do to host the first two rounds.
After splitting a pair of ACC games last week, North Carolina fell three spots to No. 23 in the AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll.
CHAPEL HILL — For the first time in five years, Sylvia Hatchell returned to Carmichael Arena on a special Alumni Day. Instead of intensely coaching the Carolina from the sidelines as she did over her 32-year Hall of Fame career at UNC, she was on the front row behind one of the baselines watching the action — or trying to.
CHAPEL HILL — On a day that Carolina celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1994 national championship team, the Tar Heels showed they are stacking the talent and moving the program closer to adding another championship banner to the Carmichael Arena rafters soon. But this season’s team couldn’t deliver the knockout punch until a late 8–0 run against a feisty bunch from Virginia.
With one legendary shot, Charlotte Smith cemented her spot in Carolina women’s basketball history, but not without some anxious moments and confusion coming out of the huddle.
No. 20 North Carolina took many of No. 21 Florida State’s best punches over the first 2½ quarters but the Seminoles had trouble delivering the knockout punch. Deja Kelly wouldn’t let that happen as she ensured the Tar Heels fought back … until she fouled out on a questionable call with 5:05 left.
North Carolina’s women’s basketball team is hitting its stride as the No. 20 Tar Heels settle in knowing which players will be available the rest of the season. UNC (11–4, 3–0 ACC) is tied for the ACC lead and takes a five-game win streak into Thursday’s 6 p.m. game (ESPN3) at No. 21 Florida State (12–4, 3–1).
By R.L. Bynum After a surprising one-week absence from the AP Top 25 women’s poll, North Carolina returned at No. … More
Caleb Love got hot at just the right time for No. 10 Arizona on Saturday night. Love scored 15 of his 23 points during a pivotal second-half stretch as the host Wildcats pulled away for a 92–73 win.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — This was the Indya Nivar game. The sophomore Stanford transfer was everywhere on the court with lots of energy while contributing in many ways for North Carolina. She scored a crucial bucket on a driving layup with 1:44 left for two of her team-high 16 points as the Tar Heels battled for a 61–57 win over No. 16 Notre Dame on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion.
There is a good omen and plenty of positive momentum for Carolina’s women’s basketball team heading into the Tar Heels’ showdown at No. 16 Notre Dame on Sunday.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kayla McPherson will miss the rest of Carolina’s women’s basketball season after suffering a knee injury that required surgery.
CHAPEL HILL — A one-on-one meeting in Coach Courtney Banghart’s office with the door closed has led to a shift in Alyssa Ustby’s approach that is producing impressive results.
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