University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
13-2,1-1ACC
Miami
11-2,1-1ACC
No. 17 WBB Fights Past Miami For First ACC Road Win, 69-60
December 29, 2024 | Women's Basketball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Hitting the road for its second true away game of the season, No. 17 North Carolina picked up its first win in Coral Gables since 2015, toppling Miami 69-60 on its home court from the Watsco Center on Sunday afternoon. The Tar Heels open ACC action on the road with a win for the second straight season.
Taking excellent care of the ball with a season low four turnovers, North Carolina (13-2, 1-1 ACC) handed Miami (11-2, 1-1 ACC) its second loss of the season off of an efficient day in the paint. The duo of Maria Gakdeng and Alyssa Ustby packed it in the paint with the two each recording a double-double.
Gakdeng tied her season-high with 21 points and added a season-best 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. With her fourth on the season, Ustby tallied 19 points and 13 rebounds as she moved into No. 22 overall in scoring at UNC.
Holding Miami to its fewest points this season, UNC's defense continues to make its opponents pay as the Tar Heels have now held 10 of its 15 opponents to their lowest point total this year.
With a season-high and team best five assists, Indya Nivar reached double-figures for the sixth time this season as Carolina dished out 18 assists off 27 made field goals.
Defense jumped on the Hurricanes early, forcing Miami into a multi-minute drought without a field goal for over half the first quarter. Gakdeng proved to be a problem in the paint with her most points in a quarter this season at nine, as Carolina ran out to a 21-14 lead over Miami through one.
Pouring it on in the paint, the Tar Heels took advantage of the Hurricanes on the inside with 24 points in the first two quarters to extend its advantage. Despite Carolina surrendering the ball only three times in the opening half, Miami ended the second on a 7-0 run for UNC to take a 39-29 lead into the break.
The trio of Gakdeng, Nivar and Ustby kept the Tar Heels in motion, working their way through the Hurricanes to dominate on the inside. The Hurricanes cut into UNC's advantage within seven, yet Carolina fired back to jump back ahead by double-digits at 62-47 with 10 minutes remaining.
Both teams went cold from the floor in the opening minutes of the final quarter, yet Carolina limited Miami's chances at a potential comeback. Slowing down the game, UNC came away with the 69-60 victory and its first ACC win of the season.
The Tar Heels head back to Chapel Hill, welcoming a No. 3 Notre Dame squad to Carmichael Arena next Sunday (Jan. 5). Carolina begins the new year at home against the Fighting Irish at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.
