University of North Carolina Athletics
Gianna Bowe
Photo by: Rebecca Lawson
GoHeels Exclusive: Ball of Fire
May 24, 2019 | Women's Lacrosse, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
In her first two seasons on the North Carolina women's lacrosse team, Gianna Bowe was a spark plug for the Tar Heels' attack, tallying 17 points while primarily playing a reserve role.
When on the field, her energy was contagious. Jenny Levy sensed that. But with UNC boasting plenty of offensive firepower last season, Bowe wasn't necessarily needed in the attack. Still, Levy wanted her presence on the field. So she moved Bowe to midfield, where she "picked up loose balls and did all the scrappy stuff."
Bowe embraced that role. She's done the same this season, playing as a full middie. No matter where her team has needed her, though, the spark the senior co-captain provides has remained a constant.
"She brings our team a lot of energy, she's got a never-say-die attitude and I think she can be underestimated because of her size," said Levy of Bowe, who is listed at 5 feet tall. "But her fight, her will, is something that's hard to put a price tag on."
It certainly proved valuable Saturday.
In third-seeded UNC's 14-7 victory over sixth-seeded Virginia in the NCAA quarterfinals, Bowe scored three goals. She also won five draw controls, picked up a ground ball and caused a turnover. In total, she recorded seven possession-deciding plays. No player made more.
Bowe accomplished all that while hardly ever leaving the field on a day when the temperature hovered around 90 degrees and the sun was unrelenting.
"She'll exhaust herself," Levy said. "Sometimes she'll say, 'No, I'm good to go.' And I say, 'No, just take a breather. You'll get back in.'"
The Virginia game was the latest in a string of impressive performances by Bowe as she's neared the end of her Carolina career. Her hat trick against the Cavaliers was the fifth of her career and her third in four games. She also scored three goals against Duke and Boston College in the ACC Tournament, helping her make the All-ACC Tournament team.
On the season, she's scored 25 goals, the fifth most on the team. She leads the Tar Heels in ground balls (29), is second in draw controls (48) and is fourth in caused turnovers (11).
"Whatever my team needs at that moment, I'm willing to do," Bowe said. "I think offense was always my strength in previous years, but I'm kind of just putting it all together and trusting all the work I've put in."
She's getting rewarded for it, too.
In addition to being named to the All-ACC Tournament team, she received second-team All-ACC honors at the end of the regular season. On Tuesday, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association recognized her with a selection to its All-South Region second team.
Perhaps her biggest honor, though, came on April 13. After the Tar Heels' 11-5 win over Syracuse on Senior Day, she accepted the Kellie Thompson Shiley Award. The award is given annually to the player who excels in the classroom and on the field, displays outstanding leadership at all times, sets a positive example for younger players and has a true passion for the game of lacrosse – all of which were traits Kellie displayed.
Bowe does, too. That's largely why her teammates are so happy to see her having the success she's currently having.
"It's so inspiring," Jamie Ortega said. "She's just this little ball of fire, always dodging, always making an impact on the field. For her to take control of the game, if she takes control, other people start taking control. Watching her, especially in the draw circle, she's awesome. Boxing out. She might be tiny but don't underestimate her. She's one of the biggest players on our team."
And UNC will need her contributions Friday, when it faces Boston College in the national semifinals, held at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field in Baltimore.
Carolina lost 14-8 to the Eagles during the regular season. A month later, the Tar Heels avenged that defeat with a 15-13 win over Boston College in the ACC championship game. Bowe played a key role in that one, finishing with four points, two ground balls and two draw controls.
Bowe, making her third final four appearance, is no stranger to championship weekend. She also knows what it takes to win there, having helped UNC claim the 2016 national title.
This weekend, she'll look to bookend her career with another.
"I feel so differently with this group than I have the past four years," Bowe said. "We were down by five in the ACC championship and we found a way to fight back. We had a really tough fall, just workouts and mental preparation. I think that's prepared us for right now.Â
"I think we're in a really good place going into the final four. We're definitely not satisfied with last year's performance, and I think we have a really great head going forward. We're really excited to get to Baltimore."
In her first two seasons on the North Carolina women's lacrosse team, Gianna Bowe was a spark plug for the Tar Heels' attack, tallying 17 points while primarily playing a reserve role.
When on the field, her energy was contagious. Jenny Levy sensed that. But with UNC boasting plenty of offensive firepower last season, Bowe wasn't necessarily needed in the attack. Still, Levy wanted her presence on the field. So she moved Bowe to midfield, where she "picked up loose balls and did all the scrappy stuff."
Bowe embraced that role. She's done the same this season, playing as a full middie. No matter where her team has needed her, though, the spark the senior co-captain provides has remained a constant.
"She brings our team a lot of energy, she's got a never-say-die attitude and I think she can be underestimated because of her size," said Levy of Bowe, who is listed at 5 feet tall. "But her fight, her will, is something that's hard to put a price tag on."
It certainly proved valuable Saturday.
In third-seeded UNC's 14-7 victory over sixth-seeded Virginia in the NCAA quarterfinals, Bowe scored three goals. She also won five draw controls, picked up a ground ball and caused a turnover. In total, she recorded seven possession-deciding plays. No player made more.
Bowe accomplished all that while hardly ever leaving the field on a day when the temperature hovered around 90 degrees and the sun was unrelenting.
"She'll exhaust herself," Levy said. "Sometimes she'll say, 'No, I'm good to go.' And I say, 'No, just take a breather. You'll get back in.'"
The Virginia game was the latest in a string of impressive performances by Bowe as she's neared the end of her Carolina career. Her hat trick against the Cavaliers was the fifth of her career and her third in four games. She also scored three goals against Duke and Boston College in the ACC Tournament, helping her make the All-ACC Tournament team.
On the season, she's scored 25 goals, the fifth most on the team. She leads the Tar Heels in ground balls (29), is second in draw controls (48) and is fourth in caused turnovers (11).
"Whatever my team needs at that moment, I'm willing to do," Bowe said. "I think offense was always my strength in previous years, but I'm kind of just putting it all together and trusting all the work I've put in."
She's getting rewarded for it, too.
In addition to being named to the All-ACC Tournament team, she received second-team All-ACC honors at the end of the regular season. On Tuesday, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association recognized her with a selection to its All-South Region second team.
Perhaps her biggest honor, though, came on April 13. After the Tar Heels' 11-5 win over Syracuse on Senior Day, she accepted the Kellie Thompson Shiley Award. The award is given annually to the player who excels in the classroom and on the field, displays outstanding leadership at all times, sets a positive example for younger players and has a true passion for the game of lacrosse – all of which were traits Kellie displayed.
Bowe does, too. That's largely why her teammates are so happy to see her having the success she's currently having.
"It's so inspiring," Jamie Ortega said. "She's just this little ball of fire, always dodging, always making an impact on the field. For her to take control of the game, if she takes control, other people start taking control. Watching her, especially in the draw circle, she's awesome. Boxing out. She might be tiny but don't underestimate her. She's one of the biggest players on our team."
And UNC will need her contributions Friday, when it faces Boston College in the national semifinals, held at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field in Baltimore.
Carolina lost 14-8 to the Eagles during the regular season. A month later, the Tar Heels avenged that defeat with a 15-13 win over Boston College in the ACC championship game. Bowe played a key role in that one, finishing with four points, two ground balls and two draw controls.
Bowe, making her third final four appearance, is no stranger to championship weekend. She also knows what it takes to win there, having helped UNC claim the 2016 national title.
This weekend, she'll look to bookend her career with another.
"I feel so differently with this group than I have the past four years," Bowe said. "We were down by five in the ACC championship and we found a way to fight back. We had a really tough fall, just workouts and mental preparation. I think that's prepared us for right now.Â
"I think we're in a really good place going into the final four. We're definitely not satisfied with last year's performance, and I think we have a really great head going forward. We're really excited to get to Baltimore."
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