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GREENSBORO — One day after No. 14 North Carolina got its revenge victory, it was on the other end of the avenging at the hands of No. 7 N.C. State. The No. 1-seed Wolfpack won their sixth consecutive game since falling at UNC on Feb. 16, taking control with a 21–0 first-half run and rolling to a 66–55 victory over UNC in an ACC tournament semifinal Saturday at First Horizon Coliseum.
GREENSBORO — Her North Carolina teammates surrounded Reniya Kelly in celebration after the No. 14 Tar Heels used impressive grit to get revenge against Florida State. No. 5-seed Carolina is in the ACC tournament semifinals for the first time in 11 years and they wouldn’t be there without her, or Lexi Donarski’s tough defense on Seminoles star Ta’Niya Latson.
GREENSBORO — Alyssa Ustby chest-bumped Maria Gakdeng and let out a loud, “Let’s go!” after converting an early inside second-half bucket on a three-point play. It was the sort of play No. 14 North Carolina had missed in the last four games. But the No. 5 seed needed plays like that and big games from Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar to rally from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 78–71 victory over No. 12-seed Boston College in the second round of the ACC tournament Thursday at First Horizon Coliseum.
Could stars Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly play in Greensboro at this week’s ACC tournament? North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart had some hopeful words on the day that the Tar Heels fell six spots in the AP Top 25 poll to No. 14 after losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.
With No. 8 North Carolina’s first back-to-back losses all season, the short-handed Tar Heels lost a chance to earn a double-bye in the ACC women’s tournament.
CHAPEL HILL — While two of No. 8 North Carolina’s best players watched from the bench, ensuring they’re ready for tournament play, the short-handed Tar Heels leaned on their depth and heavily on Maria Gakdeng. Even with a career day from the senior center, it wasn’t enough to pull out a senior day victory on Sunday as UNC blew an eight-point lead in the last 5:22 and lost 78–75 to a scrappy Virginia team at Carmichael Arena.
DURHAM — No matter how many players are out, No. 8 North Carolina just keeps putting up a fight, regardless of the opponent. Against No. 16 Duke, freshman Lanie Grant — in her first college start — did her best to make up for playing without stars Reniya Kelly and Alyssa Ustby as UNC led by one at halftime. But the Blue Devils had too much firepower at the end, pulling away for a 68–53 victory Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
North Carolina has ridden a seven-game win streak into the program’s latest top-10 ranking in the AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll in 16 seasons.
Life without Alyssa Ustby — however long that is — is never going to be easy, but No. 9 North Carolina having junior transfer guard Tray Crisp back and Lanie Grant’s savvy sure make it easier. Both came off the bench to score career-highs and make crucial buckets as the Tar Heels rallied from 12 points down to win 79–75 Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center for the program’s first win in six tries at Louisville, becoming the only women’s team in the country unbeaten on the road.
Maria Gakdeng was nearly unstoppable when she got the ball inside Thursday night, and No. 9 North Carolina took advantage of that. The senior center produced her 10th career double-double and third this season with 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Tar Heels moved to 8–0 on the road for the third time in program history with a 68–58 victory over Syracuse at the JMA Dome in Syracuse.
Alyssa Ustby missed most of No. 9 UNC’s victory Sunday against N.C. State with a left knee injury and didn’t travel with the team for Thursday’s game at Syracuse, but there was good news.
It’s been a draining season for North Carolina basketball fans, with lots of last-second drama that has undoubtedly created plenty of heart palpitations. The men’s and women’s teams have combined for 14 one-possession games. Woody Durham used to say that fans need to “go where they go and do what they do” when the game is on the line. UNC fans who have followed that advice have made frequent trips.
North Carolina is back in the top 10 for the first time in three seasons, moving up three spots to No. 9 after knocking off N.C. State 66–65 on Sunday.
CHAPEL HILL — Without No. 12 North Carolina’s star veteran, the Tar Heels showed plenty of heart in beating their rival with improvised lineups. Two clutch Grace Townsend free throws with 5.2 seconds left and a huge defensive stop at the end lifted the Tar Heels to a 66–65 upset of No. 10 N.C. State before a packed Carmichael Arena on Sunday, doing it without Alyssa Ustby for the last 37½ minutes.
CHAPEL HILL — Once No. 12 North Carolina’s defense dug in, the Tar Heels wouldn’t be denied. Virginia Tech didn’t score again after tying it with 2:51 left as the Tar Heels pulled out a 67–62 win Thursday at Carmichael Arena for UNC’s fourth straight win to end a six-game losing streak against the Hokies.
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