Tar Heel Triumphs: A Journey Through UNC Athletics

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The No. 14 North Carolina women’s basketball team is aiming to keep its perfect record on the road as they travel to Pitt this Sunday to wrap up a week away from Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels are looking for their sixth consecutive victory against the Panthers at 2 p.m. ET, which will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.

NO. 14/14 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (16-3, 4-2 ACC)

Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)

Record at North Carolina: 112-59 (6th season)

Career Record: 366-162 (18th season) 

PITT PANTHERS (9-10, 1-4 ACC) 

Head Coach: Tory Verdi (Keene State, 1996)

Record at Pitt: 17-34 (2nd season)

Career Record: 220-188 (14th season)

TIPPING OFF
• Carolina stays away from home, heading toward Pitt in pursuit of their sixth consecutive win against the Panthers.

• In road settings this season, Carolina remains undefeated with a 3-0 record overall and 2-0 in ACC competition, marking their best start in conference play since the 2013-14 season.

• Gaining momentum as a collective unit, with 16 victories in 19 encounters, a win against Pitt on Sunday would equal Carolina’s best record after 20 games since the 2013-14 season.

• In a commanding rebounding display, Carolina secured an ACC-high 51 rebounds against SMU, while Alyssa Ustby matched her career record with 18 boards.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

With a record of 9-10 overall and 1-5 in conference play, Pitt has split its last two contests, falling to NC State on Thursday but overcoming SMU at home the previous Sunday.

At home, the Panthers have demonstrated strong performance with a 7-3 record.

Pitt has been effective at the free-throw line, ranking No. 3 in the conference with an average of 18.05 free throw attempts per game. Khadija Faye ranks sixth nationally and leads the ACC with 132 total attempts this season.

SERIES HISTORY VS. PITT

Recently, Carolina has dominated the series against Pittsburgh, achieving five consecutive victories over the Panthers.

Historically, UNC leads the series 8-6 but trails when competing in Pittsburgh. Carolina aspires to secure a third victory in a row over the Panthers at home, extending their overall consecutive wins to six.

LAST TIME OUT

Carolina showcased outstanding defense on Thursday, restricting SMU to only 33 points during a 64-33 triumph over the Mustangs in Dallas.

By limiting an opponent to the fewest points allowed this season and the second lowest against an ACC rival, the Tar Heels held a conference adversary to under 20% shooting from the field for the first time under Courtney Banghart.

On fire from beyond the arc, Lexi Donarski propelled the Tar Heels with 15 points, shooting 5-of-6 from long range.

JUMPED OUT THE GYM

As a collective, Carolina collected 52 rebounds, marking the second most in a single game this season and the highest since facing an ACC opponent in 2022.

This achievement marks the seventh occasion a Banghart-led team has accumulated 50 or more rebounds against an ACC opponent.

Alyssa Ustby spearheaded the effort, matching her career-best with a total of 18 rebounds. This performance stands as the highest total rebounds by any ACC player this season.

MAKE IT COUNT

Securing a win in the ACC is critical for a team’s chances at the NCAA Tournament, and Carolina made a statement with its win over SMU.

The 31-point margin over the Mustangs marked UNC’s third ACC victory by over 30 points in the Courtney Banghart era.

ON THE RISE

By achieving a second victory over a ranked team this season against No. 14 Duke on Thursday, Carolina ascended to No. 14 in this Monday’s AP Poll.

This ranking equaled the highest for the Tar Heels this season as they also ranked No. 14 in the first poll. It represents their highest position since the 2/6 poll for the 2022-23 season.

ROAD WARRIORS

With a perfect 3-0 record in true road games, Carolina is experiencing its best away-from-home start since the 2021-22 season.

The 2021-22 Tar Heels commenced their road journey at 4-0 with victories against Charlotte, TCU, Minnesota, and Boston College.

A victory this Sunday would mark Carolina’s first 3-0 start in ACC road games since the 2013-14 season.

FEELIN’ IT FROM THE FIELD

The Tar Heels found their rhythm against Boston College, achieving over 50% shooting from the field in their first ACC game and the second time this season.

In the second half, UNC achieved a season-high 54.8% shooting for the best performance in the final two quarters this year.

Under Banghart’s leadership, Carolina has shot over 50% against ACC teams in eight instances.

LOCK ‘EM UP

On Thursday, Carolina limited SMU’s offensive opportunities, holding the Mustangs to a mere 19.4% shooting from the field.

This defensive performance is the best against an ACC opponent since the inception of the Courtney Banghart era.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS

Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have a 18-28 overall record against AP Top-25 teams, with a commendable 12-7 mark against ranked teams at home.

This season, the Tar Heels hold a 2-3 record against ranked opponents, previously competing against then No. 2 UConn, No. 14 Kentucky, No. 25 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Notre Dame, and No. 14 Duke.

WE’VE GOT A NEW TAR HEEL!

Joining the Tar Heels for the spring semester, Taissa Queiroz has enrolled early at UNC and will practice with the team for the remainder of the season.

A four-star recruit according to ESPN, Taissa hails from Belo Horizonte, Brazil and prepared in the Bay Area before signing with the Tar Heels.

The 6-1 guard was recognized as the San Francisco Chronicle Co-North Bay Player of the Year and was ranked among the Top-Five Players on the West Coast by Preps-Bay Area.

SHE’S A PROBLEM

Making significant contributions in the paint, Maria Gakdeng is establishing herself as a force inside and is excelling in ACC competition.

Her impact is evident on the boards, averaging 7.33 rebounds during conference play, placing her 14th among ACC athletes.

When a shot is taken by Gakdeng, there’s a high likelihood of it going in, as she ranks second in the conference with a remarkable field goal percentage of 62.0% in conference play.

KEYS TO A DUB

To secure victories, the Tar Heels have shown that 15 out of their 16 triumphs share several commonalities.

Carolina’s defense must deliver, limiting all but one victory to under 60 points and maintain a comfortable margin, as all wins except two have been by 10 points or more.

MAKING THEM PAY

The Tar Heels have been wreaking havoc all season against their adversaries while relishing the opportunity to force turnovers.

Not only does Carolina generate takeaways, but they also convert these opportunities into points, averaging 21.6 points per game off turnovers.

This season, UNC is achieving an average of 19.16 takeaways per game, ranking fifth in the ACC across all games.

STACKING DUBS

With the triumph over Norfolk State, the team achieved its 12th non-conference win, the highest in a single season since the 2013-14 campaign.

The squad made it to the Elite Eight that season, finishing with an overall record of 27-10.

DEFENSE IN OUR DNA

Carolina’s defense has emerged as one of the most formidable in the nation this season, ranking among the top 25 in several categories.

statistical classifications.

The Tar Heels are presently at the forefront of the ACC and rank sixth nationally in restricting their adversaries to a 33.9% shooting percentage from the field.

By keeping five of their adversaries this season under 40 points, UNC stands eighth in Division I basketball regarding scoring defense and once again spearheads the ACC by limiting opposing teams to an average of 53.3 points per contest.

The 2024-25 Tar Heels have already surpassed last year’s team, which managed to keep only four opponents below the 50-point threshold across the entire season, now holding eight at or beneath that mark and restricting 12 of their 19 adversaries to their lowest scoring games of the season when facing UNC.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

With Lexi Donarski, Grace Townsend, and Alyssa Ustby each having over 130 career games played, the Tar Heels are recognized as one of the most seasoned squads in the country.

UNC is among five national programs featuring three players with 130+ appearances, alongside Boise State, Miami, Northern Arizona, and Oklahoma.

BRINGING THE HEAT

The Tar Heels excel at inducing turnovers from their rivals, with 12 opponents this season yielding 20 or more turnovers.

With 12 adversaries relinquishing the ball 20 times or more throughout the season, UNC has compelled the most opponents to this fate since eight did during the 2017-18 season.

COMEBACK KINGS

Under Banghart, the Tar Heels hold a 29-19 record in subsequent games after suffering a loss.

THREE’S ON THREE’S

The long-range shot has been a vital element of Carolina’s strategy this season, having six games with 10 or more three-pointers made.

After 19 games in the 2024-25 season, the Tar Heels have already achieved a Banghart era record for games with 10 or more triples, the highest total since the 2020-21 season.

Against Norfolk State, Carolina matched a program record with 14 successful three-pointers.

PROVING THEIR METTLE UNDER PRESSURE

The Tar Heels demonstrated their capacity to thrive under pressure with their victory over No. 14 Kentucky, making a significant statement.

The 19-point triumph over the Wildcats marked their largest victory against any AP Top-25 opponent since 2020 and their most considerable win over a top-15 ranked team since 2011.

Inside Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels boast a 12-7 record against ranked adversaries under Banghart.

GOING DEEP

The 2024-25 Tar Heel roster brims with talent, allowing Banghart to utilize players throughout any game scenario.

This season, UNC’s bench has outscored 18 of its 19 opponents and averages 25.4 points per game from its substitutes.

Seven Tar Heels are currently posting averages of 5.0 points per game or higher.

LIGHTING IT UP

The Tar Heels delivered a spectacular offensive display against N.C. Central, notching a Banghart era record of 119 points, the third-highest in program annals.

Six Tar Heels reached double digits in scoring, with Alyssa Ustby leading with a season-best 24 points.

Carolina also registered a Banghart era best of 28 assists, the highest in a single game over the past 20 seasons.

The shooting percentage of 58.6% was the highest in a single game for the Tar Heels since their match against Jackson State in 2022.

119 points tied with Florida State for the most scored by an ACC team in a single game this season.

LET IT RAIN

Imperial Arena seemed to ignite the Tar Heels’ shooting prowess from three-point land, culminating in a total of 23 made threes throughout the Battle4Atlantis.

Trayanna Crisp led Carolina with seven successful attempts from long range, followed closely by Lexi Donarski with four.

Overall, the Tar Heels achieved a shooting percentage of 37.7% from beyond the arc during the tournament.

Carolina followed this performance by equaling its then-season high with 11 successful three-pointers against N.C. Central, marking the first occurrence of back-to-back games with 10 or more made threes since the 2021-22 season against James Madison and UNC Asheville.

Throughout the Banghart era, the Tar Heels have achieved 32 games with 10 or more three-pointers made.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE

The Tar Heels stifled Villanova, restricting them to just 36 points and a shooting percentage of 23.5% from the field in the Battle4Atlantis semifinals.

36 points are the fewest conceded by UNC against a power conference opponent since 2007, with the shooting percentage being the lowest since 2022 against South Carolina State.

Following their performance against the Wildcats, the Tar Heels restricted another opponent to under 40 points, limiting the Hoosiers to 39 points.

This accomplishment marked the first time in program history that Carolina has held consecutive power conference opponents to under 40 points.

DOUBLE-THREAT

As two of Carolina’s fifth-year players, the partnership of Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby enhances their mutual successes on the court.

When both players score in double figures, the Tar Heels have a record of 15-4 overall.

PASSING THE ROCK

With a rich roster, the Tar Heels offer various scoring threats, as nine different players have recorded double-figure games this season.

In 19 contests so far, seven different Tar Heels have led the team in scoring this season.

LET IT FLY, LEX!

Recognized as one of the nation’s elite active three-point shooters, Lexi Donarski remains a reliable scoring option from beyond the arc, currently maintaining a 26-game streak of made triples.

This streak, which goes back to last season, is the longest of the fifth-year player’s career.

Donarski is currently averaging 2.00 three-pointers per game, ranking 11th among players in the ACC.

WE’LL TAKE THAT

The Tar Heels have displayed aggression on the defensive end from the outset of the season, led by Reniya Kelly and Indya Nivar.

Against N.C. A&T, Kelly achieved a career-high five steals against the Lady Aggies, allowing UNC to reach double-digit steals for the third consecutive game.

This season, the Tar Heels have recorded 10 or more steals in eight out of 19 games.

Against Villanova, Nivar achieved a career-high six steals for a Tar Heel season best.

CLEAN HANDS

UNC has distinguished itself as one of the leading ball-handling teams in the nation, ranking No. 17 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC by keeping their turnovers to a mere 12.5 per game.

The Tar Heels yielded a season-low of seven turnovers against N.C. Central.

NEED AN ASSIST? GRACE’S ON IT

Regarded statistically as one of the premier facilitators in college basketball, Grace Townsend continues to accumulate assists in her inaugural season in Chapel Hill.

The Richmond transfer currently ranks No. 7 nationally in active career assists with a total of 602.

Against UNCW, Townsend dished out eight assists against the Seahawks, marking a season-high. Throughout her career, Townsend has tallied five or more assists in 61 games.

HOME, SWEET HOME

Carmichael Arena is a welcoming place for the Tar Heels, particularly during non-conference matches.

Under Banghart, UNC holds a record of 35-2 in non-conference home games.

THE FABULOUS FRESHMEN

In the quest for some of the nation’s top talents, Banghart and his staff have recruited three freshmen poised to make an immediate impact for Carolina.

Lanie Grant, Blanca Thomas, and Jordan Zubich make up the freshman class, each bringing a wealth of high school and club accolades.

Grant elected to reclassify into the class of 2024 and forgo her final season of high school to join the Tar Heels early.

A native of Carolina, Thomas aims to enhance the interior play and provide a robust defensive presence. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year as recognized by the Charlotte Observer, Thomas led Charlotte Catholic to consecutive final four appearances in the state tournament.

Joining Ustby…

As the second respondent from Minnesota on the roster, Zubich arrives after an exhilarating preparatory career during which she accumulated over 3,000 total points. A graduate of Mountain Iron-Buhl High School, Zubich was recognized as the No. 69 athlete in the Class of 2024 by ESPN’s HoopGurlz.

THE ELITE OF THE ELITE

A blend of youth and seasoned players is evident throughout the Tar Heel lineup, yet some of the veterans on the squad have demonstrated their prowess on a national scale.

The partnership of Donarski and Ustby places them among the most seasoned duos in the nation, achieving top-10 status in various metrics among active athletes in Division I Basketball.

As an accurate shooter, Donarski currently ranks No. 6 in successful three-pointers with a total of 311. With 147 career games played, she also holds the No. 6 position in active appearances.

A consistent double-double, Ustby’s 1,139 career rebounds position her fifth nationally. Her 46 double-doubles also place her fifth nationally among active competitors.

OH MY MARIA!

After a remarkable inaugural season as a Tar Heel, Maria Gakdeng averaged 6.4 points per contest while shooting 62.6% from the field in 2023-24.

The senior’s accomplishments have once more been acknowledged as among the finest centers in the country, as Gakdeng earned a spot on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List for the second consecutive season.

Gakdeng also demonstrates her role as a formidable rim protector, achieving the 200 career block milestone at SMU and ranking 12th among active players.

MILESTONE TRACKER

MARIA GAKDENG

• 3 assists short of 100 career.

GRACE TOWNSEND

• 187 points from reaching 1,500 career.

ALYSSA USTBY

• 108 rebounds from securing the No. 1 spot in program history.

• 35 points from advancing to 18th overall in scoring at UNC.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

The Tar Heels return home after their two-game road trip to challenge Wake Forest at Carmichael Arena on Thursday night.

Tip-off against the Demon Deacons is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, streaming on ACCNX.