North Carolina
UNCG
No. 14 WBB Welcomes UNCG For Midweek Tilt
December 10, 2024 | Women's Basketball
NO. 14/14 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (9-1, 0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 105-57 (6th season)
Career Record: 359-160 (18th season)Â
UNCG SPARTANSÂ (7-2, 0-0 SoCon)Â
Head Coach: Trina Patterson (Virginia, 1987)
Record at UNCG: 128-124 (9th season)
Career Record: 311-424 (26th season)
TIPPING OFF
• The Tar Heels hope to make it seven wins in-a-row, hosting UNCG from Carmichael Arena on Wednesday night.
• Carolina is letting the ball fly, draining a season-high 12 three-pointers against UNCG. UNC ranks fifth in the ACC averaging 8.6 triples per game.
• The defensive efforts from UNC have proven to be one of the best nationally, with Carolina ranking third nationally in only allowing 48.8 points per game.
• Balance is key, and the Tar Heels are proving it with eight different players leading the team in scoring this season. Alyssa Ustby paces UNC, leading the team in scoring in three games.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
UNCG enters Wednesday's matchup at 7-2 overall with wins in five of its last six games. Most recently, the Spartans split in the 2024 Puerto Rico Clasico falling to UTSA and grabbing a win over Le Moyne.
The Spartans are also touted as one of the country's top defensive teams, ranking ninth nationally in holding its opponents to an average of 50.7 points per game. UNCG also leads the SoCon in scoring margin, outscoring its opponents in its seven wins by an average of 17.1 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UNCG
Dating back to the first series meeting in 1975, UNC has clamed all 13 previous meetings.
The Tar Heels and Spartans meet for the second straight season, after UNC defeated UNC 81-66 in Chapel Hill last December. Lexi Donarski led Carolina with 22 points while shooting six-of-eight from three.Â
LAST TIME OUT
Lighting it up from beyond the arc, UNC shot a season-best 12 three's in a 72-46 victory over Coppin State from Carmichael Arena on Sunday.
12 Tar Heels found their way to the basket, with Maria Gakdeng leading the team with 10 points.
For the fifth time this season, Carolina held its opponent to under 50 points in a single-game and held its opponent to its lowest point total of the year.
SHINING BRIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Tar Heels proved that they can handle the spotlight in its win over No. 14 Kentucky and sure made a statement of it.
The 19-point win over the Wildcats was the largest win against any AP Top-25 opponent since 2020 and its largest win over a top-15 ranked opponent since 2011.
In Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels are 11-5 against ranked opponents under Banghart.
RUNNING DEEP
The 2024-25 Tar Heel roster is full of talent, as Banghart can go deep in the roster in any game situation.
This season, UNC's bench has outscored all nine of its opponents and averages 28.3 points per game from its reserves.
SHARING IS CARING
The Tar Heels share the ball at an efficient rate, averaging 16.1 assists per game.
In its past four outings, the Tar Heels have dished out 15 plus assists in each game. This streaks marks the longest with 15 or more assists for four games in a row since March of 2022.
BROUGHT THE FIREWORKS
The Tar Heels put on a memorable offensive performance against N.C. Central, recording a Banghart era high 119 points for the third most in program history.
Six Tar Heels scored in double-figures, with Alyssa Ustby leading the way with a season-high 24 points.
Carolina dished out a Banghart era best 28 assists, the most in a single-game in the past 20 seasons.
The field goal percentage of 58.6% was the highest in a single game for the Tar Heels since against Jackson State in 2022.
119 points tied Florida State in the most scored by an ACC team in a single-game this season.
MAKE IT RAIN
Something about Imperial Arena had the Tar Heels feeling hot from three, draining a total of 23 throughout the Battle4Atlantis.
Trayanna Crisp led Carolina with seven makes from beyond the arc, followed by Lexi Donarski with four.
Overall, the Tar Heels shot a 37.7% clip from deep on the tournament.
Carolina followed this performance up by tying its then season high with a total of 11 made three's as a team against N.C. Central. It marked the first back-to-back games with 10 or more made three's since the 2021-22 season against James Madison and UNC Ashville.
In the Banghart era, the Tar Heels boast 31 games with 10 or more three's made.
DEFENSE IN OUR DNA
Carolina's defense has been one of the strongest in the country this season, ranking in the top-10 in multiple statistical categories.
The Tar Heels currently rank first in the ACC and seventh nationally in holding its opponents to a 32.2% clip from the field.Â
In holding four of of its opponents this season under 40 points, UNC ranks third in Division I basketball in scoring defense and once again leads the ACC.
The 2024-25 Tar Heels have already bested last season's squad who held only four opponents under 50-points the entire year and have held seven of its 10 opponents to its lowest scoring game of their season.
RE-WRITING HISTORY
Taking no vacation in the Bahamas, Alyssa Ustby put her foot on the gas and notched three straight games withÂ
double-figure rebounds. This marked the sixth stretch of her career with three games in-a-row with double-digit boards.
This trend continued against N.C. State with yet another double-double off of 24 points and 10 rebounds.Â
Ustby is one of nine in program history to achieve the 1k rebound milestone and one of nine active in Division I basketball with at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Not only did Ustby crack the 1,000 career rebound mark, she eclipsed 1,500 career points and earned her way on to the top-25 list at UNC with 13 points against Kentucky
Against N.C. Central, Ustby's three rejections allowed her to crack the top-10 list at Carolina with 116 career blocks.
LOCK IT DOWN
The Tar Heels shut down Villanova, limiting the Tar Heels to a mere 36 points and 23.5% from the field in the Battle4Atlantis semifinals.
36 points are the fewest allowed against a power conference team since 2007. The shooting percentage was the lowest since 2022 against South Carolina State.
Following up its performance against the Wildcats, the Tar Heels held yet another opponent under the 40-point mark in keeping the Hoosiers to 39 points.
The feat marked the first time in program history that Carolina has held back-to-back power conference opponents to under 40 points.
DOUBLE-TROUBLE
As two of Carolina's fifth-year players, the duo of Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby feed off one another's successes on the court.
When the pair both score in double-figures, the Tar Heels are 13-3 overall.
SHARE THE ROCK
Rolling deep, the Tar Heels pose multiple scoring threats with nine different players recording double-figure games this season.
Nine games in, seven different Tar Heels have led the team in scoring this season.
LET IT FLY LEX!
As one of the nation's best active three-point shooters, Lexi Donarski is a reliable scoring option for a three as she currently rides a 17-game streak with a made triple.
This stretch dating back to last season is the longest of the fifth-year's career.
WE'LL SWIPE THAT
The Tar Heels have been aggressive on the defensive end to start the season, powered by Reniya Kelly and Indya Nivar.
At N.C. A&T, Kelly snagged a career-best five steals against the Lady Aggies as UNC reached double-digit steals for the third consecutive game.
The Tar Heels have swiped 10 or more steals in five out of 10 games this season.
Against Villanova, Nivar tallied a career-best six steals for a Tar Heel season best.
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
Early on, UNC has proven itself as one of the top ball handling teams in the country, ranking No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the ACC in keeping turnovers to a minimum at 11.8 per game.
The Tar Heels surrendered a season-low seven against N.C. Central.
NEED A DIME? GRACE'S GOT YOU
Already statistically proven as one of the best facilitators in college basketball, Grace Townsend continues to rack up assists in her first season in Chapel Hill.
The Richmond transfer currently sits at No. 5 nationally in active career assists with a total of 584.
Against UNCW, Townsend tallied eight assists against the Seahawks for a season-best. Throughout her career, Townsend has dished out five or more assists in 60 games.
YOU GET A BUCKET! YOU GET A BUCKET!
The sharing of the ball between the Tar Heels against N.C. Central led to 12 different Tar Heels reaching the basket against the Eagles.
The feat marked the most scoring in a game for UNC during the Banghart era.
The Tar Heels matched this effort again versus Coppin State with 12 scoring against the Eagles.
HOME SWEET HOME
The confines of Carmichael Arena are sweet to the Tar Heels, especially during non-conference action.Â
Under Banghart, UNC is 33-2 in non-conference home games.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
A mixture of youth and experience can be found throughout the Tar Heel roster, yet some of the vets on the team have proven their skills on a national level.
The duo of Donarksi and Ustby make them one of the most experienced pairs in the country, ranking in the top-10 in multiple categories among active players in Division I Basketball.
As a sharpshooter, Donarski currently sits at No. 6 in made three's with a total of 291. With 138 career appearances, she also ranks No. 6 in active games played.
A walking double-double, Ustby's 1050 career rebounds have her sixth nationally. Her 41 double-doubles have her seventh nationally among active players.
Newcomer Grace Townsend has proven herself as one of the best dime droppers in the nation, with her total of 584 ranking fifth overall and leads the ACC.
WHAT'S BACK?
Nine from last year's NCAA Tournament team return to Chapel Hill, including three key starters in Lexi Donarksi, Maria   Gakdeng and Alyssa Ustby.Â
The trio accounted for 47.4% of UNC's scoring in 2023-24, and prepare to make even more of an impact as Donarski and Gakdeng enter their second season in a Carolina uniform.
Indya Nivar returns after appearing in all 33 games last season with starting experience and Reniya Kelly boasts 11 starts and 21 appearances prior to missing the remainder of last season due to injury.
STAT BREAKDOWN
Points returning: 63.1%
Three's returning: 63.9%
Rebounds returning: 62.1%
Assists returning: 63.7%
Steals returning: 70.1%
Blocks returning: 72.5%
Ustby is back as the Tar Heels' leader in rebounds, assists and steals from last season.
Around the rim, Gakdeng looks to expand her defensive range as the team's leading shot blocker with 51 rejections last year.
With 283 made career-three's, Donarski drained 74 triples last season for 33.9% from beyond the arc to lead the Tar Heels.
KEEPING IT 100
With the win over Ball State, head coach Courtney Banghart reached the 100 win plateau at UNC.
Banghart recently reached the 350 career-win mark in UNC's NCAA Tournament win against Michigan State last season.
LETTING LYSS SHINE
A consistent presence for the Tar Heels the past four seasons, Alyssa Ustby's dedication to the game and the program can be seen in her performance on the court as she averaged a double-double in ACC action last season with 12.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Heading into her final season, Ustby's skills are well known throughout women's basketball as she has added to her list of honors this preseason.
After being named Second-team All-ACC last year, Ustby earned Preseason All-ACC honors to kick off the 2024-25 campaign.
For the fourth consecutive season, Ustby was tabbed to the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watchlist as one of the country's top small forwards. She was also named to the Naismith Award Preseason Watchlist as one of the top players in women's basketball.
OH MY MARIA!
Posting a stellar first season as a Tar Heel, Maria Gakdeng averaged 6.4 points per game while shooting 62.6% from the field in 2023-24.
The senior's efforts were once again recognized as one of the best centers in the nation, as Gakdeng was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List for the second season in-a-row.
Gakdeng also proves to be a fearless rim protector, on the verge of reaching the 200 career block mark at 191.
PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE
At Carolina, winning is a tradition and the pressure to be one of the best remains high. The Tar Heels open the season selected to finish sixth overall in the Atlantic Coast Conference after finishing in the top half of the conference the past four seasons.
MILESTONE TRACKER
LEXI DONARSKI
• 9 made three's away from 300 career.
MARIA GAKDENG
• 9 blocks away from 200 career.
• 9 assists away from 100 career.
INDYA NIVAR
• 4 assists from 100 career.
GRACE TOWNSEND
• 223 points away from 1,500 career.
• 16 assists away from 600 career.
ALYSSA USTBY
• 16 rebounds from top-five in school history.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Carolina closes out its homestand with its ACC opener, hosting Georgia Tech from Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The ranked tilt between UNC and an undefeated Georgia Tech team is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, airing nationally on ACC Network.
