University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
10-2,0-1ACC
#25 Georgia Tech
11-0,1-0ACC
No. 14 WBB Comes Up Short In Comeback Efforts Vs. No. 25 Georgia Tech
December 15, 2024 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Facing off against a red hot No. 25 Georgia Tech, No. 14 North Carolina couldn't complete the comeback against the undefeated Yellow Jackets, falling 82-76 from Carmichael Arena on Sunday.
In the Atlantic Coast Conference opener, North Carolina (10-2, 0-1 ACC) suffered its second loss of the season, as Georgia Tech (11-0, 1-0 ACC) remains unblemished. The Tar Heels trailed by as many as 23 yet pulled within 10 in the final minutes of regulation to challenge the Yellow Jackets.
Multiple Tar Heels posted season bests, led by Maria Gakdeng with a season-high 21 points off of 9-of-11 shooting. Indya Nivar tallied a season-high 16 points, while adding two steals.
Joining the pair in double-figures, Lexi Donarski and Reniya Kelly tallied 15 points a-piece. Guiding UNC offensively, Alyssa Ustby tied a career-high with 10 assists, for the second time in her collegiate career and led the Tar Heels with eight rebounds.
The Tar Heels opened up action on a 7-0 run, until Georgia Tech's Tonie Morgan began to take over for the Yellow Jackets and meet UNC at 12 all. As UNC struggled off the glass, Georgia Tech jumped out to a 26-17 lead through one.
Carolina cut the deficit within six early in the second quarter, yet Georgia Tech could not be stopped in the paint with 20 in the first half alone. Even though Kelly fired off multiple made three's, the Tar Heels entered the break, trailing 50-34.
Refusing to let up, UNC strung together an 11-0 run in the opening moments of the fourth to inject energy into Carmichael Arena. Pulling within 12 at 68-58 with less than six minutes remaining, Carolina proved to not let Georgia Tech run away easily.
Piecing together another scoring run of 6-0, UNC cut the deficit to eight with under two minutes left. However, the comeback efforts came up short, with Georgia Tech taking a 82-76 win over the Tar Heels.
Carolina hits the road for the 2024 Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, taking on the Florida Gators from the Spectrum Center on Wednesday. Tip off from the Queen City is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET, on ESPNU.
