CHAPEL HILL — The blueprint to match the best 3-point shooting game in program history isn’t going 1 of 10 in the first quarter. But when you have a “blowtorch” at your disposal, that slow start can be erased in a hurry.
Category: Women’s basketball
Heels rally from rough first half for huge OT win at VT
BLACKSBURG, Va. — On “Stranger Things” night at Cassell Coliseum, it was as if North Carolina’s offense got yanked into “The Upside Down” during the first half. With more energy, better ball movement and hot shooting, the No. 22 Tar Heels fought their way back. After a seven-point halftime deficit and UNC’s worst shooting half of the season, the Tar Heels battled for a thrilling 66–63 overtime victory Thursday over Virginia Tech and a huge Quad 1 win.
UNC rains in 3s, roll to Banghart’s 400th win
CHAPEL HILL — Few wins came more easily than No. 400 for Coach Courtney Banghart. With the 3-pointers raining in against SMU, one of the ACC’s worst teams, it was easy for her to become the 48th active coach to reach that mark.
UNC women will leave Carmichael, share next home for men’s team
The tradition of the Carolina women’s basketball home games in a classic and beloved venue will end. Whichever arena option UNC chooses, whether it be building a new arena or renovating the Smith Center, the women’s program will play there, and the men’s and women’s teams will have separate practice facilities.
Transfer tracker: Cadeau keeps dishing out wins; Key huge in return from injury; frustrating weeks for others
While Elliot Cadeau continues to pile up assists and No. 3 Michigan keeps stacking wins, and Ven-Allen Lubin is putting up consistent games for streaking N.C. State, other former North Carolina players had unproductive, up-and-down or frustrating weeks.
Heels roll to seventh straight win behind Brooks’ breakout game
WINSTON-SALEM — For weeks, Nyla Brooks kept shooting. The good shots were there. The confidence wasn’t gone. The shots were falling in practice, and her work never stopped there. But the results — the 3-pointers that once came easily in nonconference play— hadn’t been falling. The stat lines looked quieter than expected for one of the ACC’s most heralded freshmen. On Sunday afternoon, that drought finally ended in a big way.
UNC’s defense carries through slugfest for sixth straight win
CHAPEL HILL — Courtney Banghart has never dealt with a loss to Clemson, but the latest victory over the Tigers was anything but easy. No. 25 North Carolina leaned on another sterling defensive performance to overcome intermittent offensive sloppiness. The Tar Heels rode a third-quarter scoring surge and held on for a less-than-artistic 53–44 victory Thursday at Carmichael Arena to extend their win streak to six.
Primed for the big moments, Heels win at State for first time under Banghart
RALEIGH — North Carolina had enough answers at convenient times and that gave the Tar Heels a memorable outcome Monday night.
Transfer tracker: Cadeau huge in road win over Michigan State; solid games for Jackson, Lubin
Elliot Cadeau capped the biggest week of No. 3 Michigan’s amazing season with one of the best performances of his career. Meanwhile, Ian Jackson had a solid game, Ven-Allen Lubin remained consistent, and Teonni Key returned from injury.
Banghart sees ‘growth steps’ as UNC extends FT conversion streak to 19, finds perimeter range in blowout at FSU
North Carolina will likely lose the tag as the worst free-throw shooting team in the ACC after back-to-back perfect games from the line. The issues that loomed large in some close losses earlier this season were nowhere to be found in the Tar Heels’ 82–55 victory over Florida State on Sunday at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla., after extending their streak of free-throw conversions to 19.
Kelly’s big night comes at convenient time as Tar Heels repel Miami
CHAPEL HILL — Reniya Kelly picked a good time to turn in the best game of her career. North Carolina needed the junior guard’s production to help reverse a recent slide, with her 24 points a big reason the Tar Heels topped Miami 73-62 on Thursday night at Carmichael Arena.
Irish embarrass UNC women, who suffer season-lows in points, shooting and season-high in turnovers
North Carolina suffered through its worst game of the season and is left searching for answers after a dismal afternoon in South Bend. The No. 22 Tar Heels’ two leading scorers — Ciera Toomey and India Nivar — combined for only four points as Notre Dame dominated UNC 73–50 on Sunday at Purcell Pavilion.
Cadeau ties career-high but Michigan loses first game; Nickel nation’s 7th-best 3-point shooter for unbeaten Vandy; Big games for Lubin, Tyson
Elliot Cadeau’s best game of the season on Saturday wasn’t enough for No. 2 Michigan to avoid its first loss of the season.
Tar Heels maintain No. 11 spot in women’s Top 25
UNC retained its spot at No. 11 in the AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll released Monday after easily winning twice last week. It’s the first time that North Carolina has been in the top 11 for two consecutive weeks since last season, when it was No. 9 on Feb. 17 and No. 8 on Feb. 24.
Tar Heels turn up defensive heat after rough start, crush Elon
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina is better when Nyla Brooks is logging more minutes on the court than miles on the exercise bike, and when they can find the shooting range from outside the 3-point arc. Neither happened for much of the game and the first 18 minutes had the Tar Heels upset. No. 11 UNC shook off that terrible first half to make it a 71–37 rout Thursday over Elon in Carmichael Arena despite going 4 of 26 from 3-point range.