After escaping Clemson with its third consecutive win, all on the road, North Carolina has earned its highest AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll ranking in more than two years. The Tar Heels (21–4, 9–3 ACC), unbeaten on the road at 7–0, moved up one spot to No. 12 in the latest poll, released Monday, their best ranking since being No. 11 on Jan. 30, 2023. UNC, which dropped one spot in the NET rankings to 14th after Sunday’s win, has been ranked no lower than 19th this season after going unranked for the final six polls last season.

CLEMSON, S.C. — The road resembled Easy Street for No. 13 North Carolina most of the season until the Tar Heels veered into a path full of potholes Sunday, including a self-inflicted one at the end. The Tigers had lost seven of their previous eight games but didn’t play like it. Add to that UNC’s offensive struggles and poor shooting, and it produced a much more challenging-than-expected 53–51 victory at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Alyssa Ustby did it all for No. 15 North Carolina to help the Tar Heels complete a huge 2–0 week in California. Ustby scored 16 points, tied her career-high with four 3-pointers and made a crucial defensive play at the end to help UNC hold on for a 69–67 victory Sunday at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, Calif., after Stanford erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit.

CHAPEL HILL — Instead of piling up points and assists, Kayla McPherson’s Carolina career has included periods of pain, healing and setbacks, confronting all with the determination that made her one of the country’s top high school point guards.

For No. 14 North Carolina to reach its ceiling, the Tar Heels’ perimeter shooters will have to perform consistently. In a 75–58 victory Sunday at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Lexi Donarski and Lanie Grant combined for eight of UNC’s 13 3-pointers to shoot down the Panthers for the Tar Heels’ fourth consecutive victory.

DALLAS — Four days after the agony of a historic collapse, No. 14 North Carolina only added to SMU’s misery and offensive malaise. The Mustangs, who tied the NCAA women’s Division I record by blowing a 32-point lead in a 13-point Sunday loss at Pittsburgh, collected more turnovers (21) than field goals (12) as the Tar Heels’ relentless defense claimed another victim.

CHAPEL HILL — No. 19 North Carolina came out after halftime with energy for the second consecutive game and took over. Unlike against No. 14 Duke three days earlier when the Tar Heels had to go to overtime to win, Carolina kept its foot on the gas and coasted to an 80–67 victory Sunday at Carmichael Arena over Boston College.

CHAPEL HILL — No.19 Carolina has flexed its defensive muscle many times this season, but none more impressively than Thursday night against No. 14 Duke. UNC left the Blue Devils out of sorts and disjointed on offense, but the problem was that the Tar Heels were willing participants in this rock fight with plenty of offensive issues and sloppy play. But 16 straight points to start the second half and nine in a row in overtime powered the Tar Heels to a huge 53–46 victory at Carmichael Arena.