Behind Barrage Of Threes, Women's Basketball Improves To 8-0

Sunday, December 5

Chapel Hill

2 PM

North Carolina

8-0,0-0ACC

James Madison

3-5,0-0CAA

James Madison

North Carolina

Deja Kelly led UNC with 21 points, including three 3-pointers, in Sunday's win over James Madison.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

December 5, 2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Led by 21 points from sophomore Deja Kelly, the North Carolina women's basketball team beat visiting James Madison 93-47 Sunday afternoon at Carmichael Arena. With the win, UNC improved to 8-0 on the season for the 13^th time in program history.

"I was so glad to be back home – this group has been through quite a journey over the last couple weeks," said UNC coach Courtney Banghart, whose team has played in Texas, the Bahamas and Minnesota since its last home game on Nov. 17. "I was excited for Carmichael to see the growth of this team. I thought it was the best we've been all year at sharing the basketball, which led to great shots."

After Kelly's total, which included 3-3 shooting from three-point range and marked the eighth time in the season's eight games that she's reached double-figure scoring, the Tar Heels got 18 points from sophomore Alyssa Ustby and a game-high 10 rebounds from sophomore Anya Poole. Junior Eva Hodgson handed out a season-high seven assists as the team totaled 23, equal to this year's single-game high.

"I thought the game was really good for us, a really good win at home," Kelly said. "We shared the ball well and played well on the defensive end, getting stops that led to offense. It was just a fun game and it felt really good to be back in Carmichael."

The Tar Heels led throughout – they still have not trailed at Carmichael this season – and were stellar from three-point range, hitting 10 of 15 attempts with makes by seven different players. UNC's percentage of 66.7 is the best single-game mark in NCAA DI this season with a minimum of 10 shots made.

The Tar Heels jumped out to a 9-0 lead and were up 28-11 at the end of the first quarter, when they shot 52.4 percent (11-21), including 80.0 from three (4-5). Despite the sizzling start, that turned out to be the team's lowest field goal percentage in a quarter, with 56.3 (9-16) in the third quarter as the best. UNC led 74-30 heading into the final period.

Although the game was well in-hand at that point, there was some remaining suspense: would Hodgson reach the 1,000-career-points mark for her career? She came into the game with 991 career points, including a total of 53 scored vs James Madison in four matchups during her two seasons at William & Mary. She had just two points in the first half Sunday, but scored four in the third quarter and came into the fourth just a three-pointer from the milestone. She hit it 20 seconds into the quarter, much to the delight of her teammates and coaches, who joined the Carmichael crowd in celebrating her at the next timeout.

"It's amazing to be able to achieve that, especially with this group of people, and against JMU makes it even more special because that's a team I've played the past 2-3 years," said Hodgson, who is in her first season at Carolina. "I give a big credit to my teammates for just finding me and being intentional with getting me those shots today."

For the second time this season, all 11 active Tar Heels scored AND grabbed at least two rebounds. As a team, UNC won the rebounding battle 50-33.

Jamia Hazell led JMU (3-5) with 20 points and six rebounds and was the only Duke to reach double figures.

The Tar Heels' 93 points marked the team's highest offensive output of the season and they're now averaging 81.8 points per game. Other season highs were the 10 three-pointers and 66.7 percent three-point shooting, with the 23 assists equal to a season high.

Carolina is idle this week during UNC's exam period and returns to the Carmichael court next Sunday (Dec. 12) to host UNC Asheville for a 2 p.m. tipoff.