WBB Ends Season With Loss At No. 1 South Carolina

Sunday, March 24

Columbia, S.C.

1 PM

North Carolina

20-13,11-7ACC

South Carolina (NCAA Tournament Second Round)

34-0,16-0SEC

North Carolina

South Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 24, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The North Carolina women's basketball team ended its season on Sunday with a NCAA Tournament second-round loss at No. 1 South Carolina, 88-41. The undefeated Gamecocks (34-0), the top overall seed in the tournament, advance on to the Sweet 16 of the Albany 1 Regional.

Playing before more than 14,000 loud and excited fans at Colonial Life Arena, the eighth-seeded Tar Heels led at 2-1 after a jumper from sophomore Indya Nivar, but that was UNC's only advantage of the day. South Carolina mounted a 10-2 to gain a cushiou and kept rolling to lead 28-8 by the end of the first quarter. USC hit eight of 10 three-point attempts in the first half and shot 59 percent overall to take a 56-19 lead into the break.

South Carolina's 88 points, 54 rebounds and 13 steals were all highs for a UNC opponent this season. The Tar Heels registered season lows for points (41), field goals (15) and field goal percentage (.238).

"Huge congratulations to South Carolina and their fan base – they've really wrapped their arms around this program," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "Obviously a homecourt advantage is helpful and they've earned it and it played to their advantage. They played really well on both ends of the ball."

Senior Alyssa Ustby led UNC with 12 points and six rebounds. Junior Maria Gakdeng added eight points, six rebounds and a season-best four blocks.

Five Gamecock players reached double figures led by MiLaysia Fulwiley, who scored 20 points off the bench, hitting four of her seven three-point attempts. Overall, South Carolina held a 51-0 advantage in bench points.

UNC fell to 3-29 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. Since their last win over a No. 1, the Tar Heels have lost three in a row, all to South Carolina.

Carolina ends its season at 20-13. The Tar Heels played in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row and advanced to at least the second round for the third straight year. They finished with 20 or more wins for the third year in a row and 28^th time in program history.