University of North Carolina Athletics
Deja Kelly and Carlie Littlefield represented UNC at Friday's press conference.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
It's Game Day Eve For WBB In Tucson
March 18, 2022 | Women's Basketball
TUCSON, Ariz. – As the Tar Heels shouted at end of their post-practice huddle on Friday, it's "Game Day Eve."
Those words are how the UNC women's basketball team breaks the huddle after practice the day prior to every game, and that was the case once again on Friday at the McKale Center. This time of year, however, the pronouncement feels even more precious, with the knowledge that any game day could be the last.
Now in the "survive and advance" portion of the season, the fifth-seeded Tar Heels (23-6) kick off NCAA Tournament play on Saturday, taking on 12th seeded Stephen F. Austin (28-4). Tipoff in Tucson is 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 local time on Saturday.
First on the schedule for Game Day Eve on Friday was the mid-morning NCAA Tournament press conference, with coach Courtney Banghart, graduate student Carlie Littlefield and sophomore Deja Kelly representing the Tar Heels. The team then practiced for 90 minutes on the McKale Center's Lute & Bobbi Olson Court, named in honor of the Wildcats' longtime men's basketball coach and his wife.
See photos here.
The team will have dinner out in Tucson on Friday evening to cap Game Day Eve before shifting into game day mode.
Birthday vibes: Sophomore Alyssa Ustby celebrated her 20th birthday on Friday, once again spending her birthday in a different state. Last year, the Tar Heels were in San Antonio for her big day.
Tar Heel Takeover: Sophomore Alexandra Zelaya is the only team member from Arizona, so the obvious choice for an Instagram takeover on Friday. Head to the Tar Heels' Instagram account @uncwbb to get a behind-the-scenes look at the day.
Those words are how the UNC women's basketball team breaks the huddle after practice the day prior to every game, and that was the case once again on Friday at the McKale Center. This time of year, however, the pronouncement feels even more precious, with the knowledge that any game day could be the last.
Now in the "survive and advance" portion of the season, the fifth-seeded Tar Heels (23-6) kick off NCAA Tournament play on Saturday, taking on 12th seeded Stephen F. Austin (28-4). Tipoff in Tucson is 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 local time on Saturday.
First on the schedule for Game Day Eve on Friday was the mid-morning NCAA Tournament press conference, with coach Courtney Banghart, graduate student Carlie Littlefield and sophomore Deja Kelly representing the Tar Heels. The team then practiced for 90 minutes on the McKale Center's Lute & Bobbi Olson Court, named in honor of the Wildcats' longtime men's basketball coach and his wife.
See photos here.
The team will have dinner out in Tucson on Friday evening to cap Game Day Eve before shifting into game day mode.
Birthday vibes: Sophomore Alyssa Ustby celebrated her 20th birthday on Friday, once again spending her birthday in a different state. Last year, the Tar Heels were in San Antonio for her big day.
Big Birthday Vibes in Tucson, AZ.
🥳🎉 x @AlyssaUstby #GoHeels #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/8QbF4R1Eg8— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) March 18, 2022
Tar Heel Takeover: Sophomore Alexandra Zelaya is the only team member from Arizona, so the obvious choice for an Instagram takeover on Friday. Head to the Tar Heels' Instagram account @uncwbb to get a behind-the-scenes look at the day.
When in Arizona ... you turn the Instagram story over to the Arizona girl 🙂🌵☀️ Follow along today as @alizelaya0 shows you what we're up to in Tucson!
➡️ https://t.co/dvvBOdBYuW#GoHeels x #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/mJmEaN36ti— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) March 18, 2022
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