Carolina Ends Season With Tournament Loss To Alabama

Monday, March 22

San Antonio, Texas

Noon

North Carolina

13-11,8-9ACC

Alabama (First Round)

17-9,8-8SEC

North Carolina

Alabama

Stephanie Watts scored a season-high 29 points in Monday's loss to Alabama.

Photo by: Dana Gentry

March 22, 2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Graduate guard Stephanie Watts scored a season-high 29 points and senior center Janelle Bailey had 16 points a team-high nine rebounds as the North Carolina women's basketball team ended its 2020-21 season Monday afternoon with an 80-71 NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Alabama.

The Tar Heels (13-11) made their first tournament trip under coach Courtney Banghart. They earned an at-large bid and played as a No. 10 seed.

UNC started slowly, making just one of its first nine shots and shooting 20.8 percent in the first quarter. Seventh-seeded Alabama (17-9) also was chilly to start, missing its first four shots but eventually getting rolling to lead by seven, 22-15, at the end of the first quarter.

The Tar Heels shot much better after that first period, hitting 50 percent in the second quarter and 52.9 in the fourth. They got within two points, 31-29, on a layup by Watts with three minutes to go before halftime. But Alabama finished the quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 10-point lead into halftime.

Carolina never led after the early minutes of the game, but never let the game get away either. The Tar Heels pulled within five on a three-pointer by Alyssa Ustby with 2:38 to play in the third quarter only to see Alabama make another run and push its lead back up to 10 heading into the fourth quarter.

UNC again got as close as five points, trailing 65-60 with 6:46 to play after a three by Watts, but could get no closer.

Bailey came a single rebound from her 45^th career double-double in her final game as a Tar Heel. She missed her first six shots but then got on track and made eight of the next 13.

The Tar Heels were a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line, with five of those from freshman Deja Kelly, who finished the year with a streak of 21 made free throws.

UNC's 10 three-pointers tied for second-most in a game this season. Watts finished 7-for-11 from long range, while graduate guard Petra Holešínská contributed two and Ustby one.

Alabama was just the fourth team to top 80 points against the Tar Heels this season. Jordan Lewis scored 32 points, the only time this season an opponent has topped 30 against Carolina.

UNC grabbed a season-low 33 rebounds to Alabama's 46 but also had a season-low eight turnovers.

Watt's total was the high by a Tar Heel this season in her final game in Carolina blue. She finished 10 of 16 from the field, 7-11 from three and 2-2 from the foul line with three assists and three blocks. She played all 40 minutes, as did Kelly.