University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina To Spend Thanksgiving In Cancun
May 9, 2019 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL – First-year head coach Courtney Banghart and her North Carolina women's basketball team will spend Thanksgiving week participating at the 2019 Women's Cancun Challenge from the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
North Carolina will face Temple on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 9 p.m. ET, and Missouri on Friday, Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
This year marks the 15th edition of the tournament, which features 10 teams in two formats. The Mayan Tournament has Florida Gulf Coast, Notre Dame, South Dakota State and South Florida; the Riviera Tournament features Creighton, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Temple and West Virginia.
Carolina has previously competed in Cancun during the 2005-06 and 2013-14 seasons. The Tar Heels defeated Arizona State and TCU in November 2005, and went 2-1 in November 2013 with wins over Arkansas State and Illinois.
Games take place in the modified ballroom of the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, in a setting where teams and fans can walk from their rooms to the restaurants to the games.
Cancun Challenge Schedule (all times ET, local time Cancun; home team listed second):
Thursday, Nov. 28
Mayan Tournament
South Dakota State vs. South Florida, 11 a.m. ET
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Notre Dame, 1:30 p.m. ET
Riviera Tournament
Missouri vs. New Mexico, 4 p.m. ET
West Virginia vs. Creighton, 6 :30 p.m. ET
Temple vs. North Carolina, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 29
Mayan Tournament
Notre Dame vs. South Dakota State, 11 a.m. ET
South Florida vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 1:30 p.m. ET
Riviera Tournament
New Mexico vs. West Virginia, 4 p.m. ET
North Carolina vs. Missouri, 6:30 p.m. ET
Creighton vs. Temple, 9 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 30
Mayan Tournament
South Florida vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m. ET
South Dakota State vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 1:30 p.m. ET
Team Capsules
MISSOURI
2018-19 Record: 24-11 overall, 10-6 Southeastern Conference (lost to Iowa in Round 2 of NCAA Tournament)
The Tigers have to replace many important pieces, but there's comfort in the return of senior-to-be Amber Smith, who averaged 12.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg, solid numbers for the 5-foot-11 guard. If she can recover in time from a knee injury, Akira Levy can cover the ballhandling chores as a sophomore, and at least two seniors are ready to emerge (Hannah Schuchts and Jordan Roundtree) now that playing time has become available with the graduation of All-American Sophie Cunningham. The arrow is up for Mizzou, as head coach Robin Pingeton has guided the team into the NCAA Tournament for three straight years, the first time since a similar run in the mid-1980s. The team also welcomes the No. 12 ranked recruiting class, from espnW.
NORTH CAROLINA
2018-19 Record: 18-15 overall, 8-8 Atlantic Coast Conference (lost to California in Round 1 of NCAA Tournament)
The Tar Heels have turned to Courtney Banghart to lead the program after the 33-year run of head coach Sylvia Hatchell; Banghart won seven Ivy League titles in her 12 years at Princeton. Reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years was a positive sign for the roster, which returns junior-to-be Janelle Bailey (16.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg) along with 2019-20 seniors Taylor Koenen (9.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg) and Shayla Bennett (11.2 ppg, team-high 132 assists).
TEMPLE
2018-19 Record: 11-19 overall, 7-9 American Athletic Conference (no postseason)
The Owls have struggled for a couple of seasons, but there's something to build upon with junior-to-be Mia Davis, who averaged right at 19 points and nine rebounds per game last year. Classmate Desiree Oliver is hoping to build on her promise from last year, which was cut short by eight games with an injury, and Marissa Mackins had a terrific freshman run, closing with 19 starts and 8.7 ppg. The Owls just offered a scholarship to 5-foot-10 guard Tess Myers; she averaged better than 15 points per game for her high school in Ohio. The squad features twin sisters Nicolette and Emani Mayo.
North Carolina will face Temple on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 9 p.m. ET, and Missouri on Friday, Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
This year marks the 15th edition of the tournament, which features 10 teams in two formats. The Mayan Tournament has Florida Gulf Coast, Notre Dame, South Dakota State and South Florida; the Riviera Tournament features Creighton, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Temple and West Virginia.
Carolina has previously competed in Cancun during the 2005-06 and 2013-14 seasons. The Tar Heels defeated Arizona State and TCU in November 2005, and went 2-1 in November 2013 with wins over Arkansas State and Illinois.
Games take place in the modified ballroom of the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, in a setting where teams and fans can walk from their rooms to the restaurants to the games.
Cancun Challenge Schedule (all times ET, local time Cancun; home team listed second):
Thursday, Nov. 28
Mayan Tournament
South Dakota State vs. South Florida, 11 a.m. ET
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Notre Dame, 1:30 p.m. ET
Riviera Tournament
Missouri vs. New Mexico, 4 p.m. ET
West Virginia vs. Creighton, 6 :30 p.m. ET
Temple vs. North Carolina, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 29
Mayan Tournament
Notre Dame vs. South Dakota State, 11 a.m. ET
South Florida vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 1:30 p.m. ET
Riviera Tournament
New Mexico vs. West Virginia, 4 p.m. ET
North Carolina vs. Missouri, 6:30 p.m. ET
Creighton vs. Temple, 9 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 30
Mayan Tournament
South Florida vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m. ET
South Dakota State vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 1:30 p.m. ET
Team Capsules
MISSOURI
2018-19 Record: 24-11 overall, 10-6 Southeastern Conference (lost to Iowa in Round 2 of NCAA Tournament)
The Tigers have to replace many important pieces, but there's comfort in the return of senior-to-be Amber Smith, who averaged 12.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg, solid numbers for the 5-foot-11 guard. If she can recover in time from a knee injury, Akira Levy can cover the ballhandling chores as a sophomore, and at least two seniors are ready to emerge (Hannah Schuchts and Jordan Roundtree) now that playing time has become available with the graduation of All-American Sophie Cunningham. The arrow is up for Mizzou, as head coach Robin Pingeton has guided the team into the NCAA Tournament for three straight years, the first time since a similar run in the mid-1980s. The team also welcomes the No. 12 ranked recruiting class, from espnW.
NORTH CAROLINA
2018-19 Record: 18-15 overall, 8-8 Atlantic Coast Conference (lost to California in Round 1 of NCAA Tournament)
The Tar Heels have turned to Courtney Banghart to lead the program after the 33-year run of head coach Sylvia Hatchell; Banghart won seven Ivy League titles in her 12 years at Princeton. Reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years was a positive sign for the roster, which returns junior-to-be Janelle Bailey (16.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg) along with 2019-20 seniors Taylor Koenen (9.6 ppg and 6.9 rpg) and Shayla Bennett (11.2 ppg, team-high 132 assists).
TEMPLE
2018-19 Record: 11-19 overall, 7-9 American Athletic Conference (no postseason)
The Owls have struggled for a couple of seasons, but there's something to build upon with junior-to-be Mia Davis, who averaged right at 19 points and nine rebounds per game last year. Classmate Desiree Oliver is hoping to build on her promise from last year, which was cut short by eight games with an injury, and Marissa Mackins had a terrific freshman run, closing with 19 starts and 8.7 ppg. The Owls just offered a scholarship to 5-foot-10 guard Tess Myers; she averaged better than 15 points per game for her high school in Ohio. The squad features twin sisters Nicolette and Emani Mayo.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballCarolina Insider - Men's Basketball Talk (Full Segment) - October 16, 2025
Thursday, October 16
Carolina Insider - Football at Cal Preview (Full Segment) - October 16, 2025
Thursday, October 16
Carolina Insider - Olympic Sports Update (Full Segment) - October 16, 2025
Thursday, October 16
Bill Belichick Coach's Corner - Episode 6 - October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 15