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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.
BLACKSBURG, Va. — North Carolina continues to do what it can control to improve its NCAA tournament resume, and the only way to improve it in a Quad 3 game is to win decisively.
BLACKSBURG, Va. — North Carolina played like a team intent on breaking out of the bubble and making plans for March. A season-high six-game win streak is generating visions of the Tar Heels’ 2022 run with spirited play and precision perimeter shooting that has been fun to watch. UNC rebounded from some uneven play in the first 12 minutes and rolled to a 91–59 victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday at Cassell Coliseum.
With Carolina’s small margin for error, winning all six games heading into Saturday’s senior day clash in the Smith Center against No. 2 Duke was always going to be crucial to making the NCAA men’s tournament field. Heading into Tuesday’s 7 p.m. game (ESPNU) at Virginia Tech, most projections suggest that the season-high five-game win streak for UNC (19–11, 12–6 ACC) against weak ACC competition hasn’t been convincing enough.
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.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina continues to beat the teams it has to beat to make the NCAA tournament field, easily knocking off Miami 92–73 for its season-high fifth consecutive victory. The victory margin boosted the Tar Heels’ NET ranking three spots to 42nd, even though it was only a Quad 4 victory. However, they had a Quad 2 win downgraded to Quad 3.
CHAPEL HILL — The best version of this North Carolina team is when the Tar Heels play inside out on offense, creating good shots all over the court. Carolina did that impressively in Saturday’s 93–73 victory over Miami in the Smith Center, firing in 10 3-pointers and scoring 46 points in the paint to earn a season-high fifth consecutive victory.
CHAPEL HILL — Whenever a North Carolina pitcher hears the call for the next pitch through the PitchCom devices, it’s the voice of a dadgum legend.
CHAPEL HILL — Jason DeCaro’s reputation as a big-time Friday starter is only improving. The 6–5 sophomore right-hander was efficient in a career-high 7⅔ innings as No. 5 North Carolina extended its unbeaten streak to 10 with season-highs of 16 runs and 17 hits in a 16–2 thumping of Stony Brook at Boshamer Stadium on Friday.
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.
CHAPEL HILL — The momentum from last season’s College World Series run just keeps rolling along for No. 5 North Carolina, which is off to its best start in 12 seasons. In his first homer since a memorable game-ending grand slam during that run, sophomore third baseman Gavin Gallaher ripped a two-run shot 397 feet over the left-center field. That fifth-inning shot gave the Tar Heels (9–0) the lead for good in a 13–4 victory Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium on a day that freshman designated hitter Perry Hargett had an impressive college debut with three hits, one homer and four RBI.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Many have questioned where North Carolina’s passion and fight is during many games this season, and Coach Hubert Davis has done all he can to bring it out. Before Monday’s 96–85 victory, he had another game-day tactic to ensure his team came out fighting.
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