University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
10-1,0-0ACC
UNCG
7-3,0-0SoCon
WBB Battles Past In-State Foe UNCG, 80-56
December 11, 2024 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a meeting of two of the country's top-10 defensive teams, No. 14 North Carolina women's basketball grabbed its seventh consecutive win by taking down in-state foe UNCG, 80-56 from Carmichael Arena on Wednesday night. The duo of Indya Nivar and Alyssa Ustby powered the Tar Heels to its 10th win of the season.
North Carolina (10-1) fought against a stingy UNCG (7-3) team, to remain undefeated in Chapel Hill and rides its longest winning streak since the 2022-23 campaign. As a squad, Carolina registered its sixth game this season with double-digit steals with 13 total. Snagging a season-high of four steals, Ustby led the Tar Heels in scoring with a total of 15 points. Nivar followed in double-figures with 11 of her own.
UNC continues to share the ball at a high rate, with 15 or more assists for the fifth consecutive game as 12 Tar Heels scored tonight. Ustby also paced Carolina with four helpers and eight rebounds.
The Tar Heels and Spartans traded blows early on, remaining within a one-possession game for most of the opening frame. Carolina's defense began to lock down UNCG, forcing a scoring drought the final two minutes of the quarter to hold a narrow 20-15 advantage through one.
UNCG forced a two-point game off a three-ball in the early part of the second quarter, to wake up the Tar Heel offense. Taking off on a 6-0 run with five minutes remaining before halftime, Carolina began to force a gap and assert its hold over the Spartans. With Ustby as the motor, UNC extended its advantage to 15 at 44-29 heading into the locker room
Kicking off the second half on a 6-0 Carolina run, the duo of Nivar and Ustby created a 20-point advantage in the third quarter. The Spartans gave the Tar Heels pushback, yet UNC strung together multiple scoring bursts throughout the second half to run away with the 24-point victory, 80-56.
The Tar Heels return to action on Sunday for their ACC opener, hosting a ranked No. 25 Georgia Tech squad from Carmichael Arena. Tip against the Yellow Jackets is set for 2 p.m. ET, airing nationally on ACCNX.
