University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
SMU
No. 14 WBB Heads South, Visiting ACC Newcomer SMU
January 15, 2025 | Women's Basketball
NO. 19/18 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (15-3, 3-2 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 111-59 (6th season)
Career Record: 365-162 (18th season)
SMU MUSTANGS (10-7, 2-3 ACC)
Head Coach: Toyelle Wilson (Manhattan, 2003)
Record at SMU: 55-51 (4th season)
Career Record: 110-94 (7th season)
TIPPING OFF
• Carolina heads south, taking a visit to one of the ACC's newest members in SMU on Thursday. The Tar Heels face off against the Mustangs for its first conference meeting and first overall.
• Getting it done on the road, UNC looks to make it 3-0 in true road environments and pick up its seventh win away from Carmichael Arena.
• The Tar Heels are forcing their opponents to cough up the ball at a high rate, and taking advantage of it. UNC has won the turnover battle in 15 games this season and rank first in turnover margin by +6.20 in ACC games. This season, Carolina has only lost once when losing the turnover battle.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Despite being on the opposite end of the largest comeback victory in NCAA women's basketball history against Pitt over the weekend, SMU boasts two ACC wins and sits at 10-7 overall this season.
One of three new squads to the conference, the Mustangs are one of the top programs off the glass and sit second in overall rebounds with an average of 43.18 per outing. They rank first overall in the ACC with an average of 16.1 offensive rebounds per game.
Jessica Peterson leads this charge, and ranks No. 3 nationally in rebounds per game with an average of 12.1 per outing.
TAR HEELS IN TEXAS
Carolina is 5-5 overall in games played in the state of Texas. The Tar Heels last took a trip down south in November of 2021, earning a 79-46 victory over TCU in Forth Worth.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a challenge from a pesky Boston College squad, Carolina overcame a three-point deficit at the half to surge past the Golden Eagles in a 80-67 victory from Carmichael Arena on Sunday.
A hot second half pushed UNC past BC for its third straight win over the Golden Eagles in Chapel Hill. Carolina outscored BC 43-27 in the second half, off of its best second half field goal percentage this season of 54.8%.
Alyssa Ustby came alive in the final two quarters with 12 of her 17 total points coming in the second half. All over the court, Reniya Kelly tallied a double-digit performance with 14 points, adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Lanie Grant added her fourth-career double-figure outing with 12 points as the freshman has made 11 straight free-throws over the last two games.
ON THE RISE
In earning its second win over a ranked opponent this season by taking down No. 14 Duke on Thursday, Carolina jumped up to No. 14 in Monday's edition of the AP Poll.
The ranking matched the highest of the season for the Tar Heels where they came in at No. 14 in the initial poll of the season. It also ties the highest for Carolina since the 2/6 poll of the 2022-23 season.
ROAD WARRIORS
Sitting at 2-0 in true road games, Carolina is off to its best start away from home since the 2021-22 season.
The 2021-22 Tar Heels ran off to a 4-0 start on the road with wins at Charlotte, TCU, Minnesota and Boston College.
A win on Thursday over SMU would be Carolina's first 2-0 road start to ACC action since the 2013-14 season.
FEELIN' IT FROM THE FIELD
The Tar Heels hit their stride against Boston College, for their first game of ACC action shooting over 50% from the field and the second of the season.
In the second half, UNC shot a season-best 54.8% for its best in the final two quarters of a game this year.
Under Banghart, Carolina has shot over 50% against ACC opponents in eight games.
DEFENDING THE BLUE DEVILS
Locking down the Blue Devils to a mere 46 points, Carolina held its first ACC opponent to under 50 points for the first time since the 2023 ACC Tournament against Duke.
With the Blue Devils shooting at a 23.5% clip from the field, Carolina held an ACC foe to its lowest field goal percentage since Miami in the 2022 season.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels are 18-28 overall against AP Top-25 teams and 12-7 against ranked opponents at home.
This season the Tar Heels are 2-3 against ranked foes, previously taking on then No. 2 UConn, No. 14 Kentucky, No. 25 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 14 Duke.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE, CAUSING TROUBLE
Notching her fourth consecutive double-double over Duke, Alyssa Ustby earned her seventh of the season and her 45th of her career.
The streak marked the longest double-double streak since her sophomore season in 2021-22.
WE'VE GOT A NEW TAR HEEL!
Enrolling early at UNC to join the Tar Heels for the spring semester, Taissa Queiroz will join the fold and practice with the team for the remainder of the season.
A four-star prospect by ESPN, a native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil prepped in the Bay Area before signing with the Tar Heels.
The 6-1 guard was named the San Francisco Chronicle Co-North Bay Player of the Year and was ranked a Top-Five Player on the West Coast by Preps-Bay Area.
SHE'S A PROBLEM
Making it happen on the inside, Maria Gakdeng is proving to be a problem in the paint and is lighting it up in ACC action.
Her presence can be felt off the glass, averaging 7.40 rebounds in conference play to rank 14th among ACC players.
When a shot goes up from Gakdeng, high chance it's going in and she leads the conference wtih a field goal percentage of 66.7% in conference play.
KEYS TO A DUB
When it comes to the Tar Heels earning a win, 14 of their 15 wins have had multiple correlations.
Carolina's defense must get it done, holding all victories but one under 60 points or less and provide a little breathing room with all wins but two by 10 points or more.
MAKING THEM PAY
The Tar Heels have been causing havoc all-season for opposing teams, and love to force turnovers.
Not only can Carolina earn takeaways, they cash them in for points and currently average 21.7 points per game off of turnovers.
This season, UNC is earning an average of 19.06 takeaways per game, ranking fifth in the ACC through all games.
In ACC games, UNC ranks third in the conference in the turnover battle with a turnover margin of +6.20 per game.
STACKING DUBS
With the win over Norfolk State, picked up its 12th non-conference win for the most in a single-season since the 2013-14 campaign.
That team went on to make an Elite Eight appearance and finish 27-10 overall.
EXPERIENCE SPEAKS
With Lexi Donarski, Grace Townsend and Alyssa Ustby each boasting over 130 career appearances, the Tar Heels are touted as one of the most experienced teams in the nation.
UNC is one of five programs nationally with three players appearing in 130+ games, joining Boise State, Miami, Northern Arizona and Oklahoma.
PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE
The Tar Heels love to force their opponents to cough up the ball, with nine opponents this season surrendering 20 or more turnovers.
With 11 opponents turning over the ball 20 or more times throughout the season, UNC has forced the most opponents to do so since eight did during the 2017-18 season.
BOUNCE BACK
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels are now 29-19 in their next game when coming off of a loss.
THREE'S ON THREE'S
The three ball has been a focal point of Carolina's offense this year, with sixgames with 10 plus three's drained.
18 games into the 2024-25 campaign, the Tar Heels have already set a Banghart era best of games with 10 or more triples, the most since the 2020-21 season.
Against Norfolk State, Carolina matched the program best with 14 made triples.
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 12-7 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 17 out of of its 18 opponents and averages 26.0 points per game from its reserves.
Seven Tar Heels currently average 5.0 points per game or higher.
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 32 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-25 in multiple statistical categories.
The Tar Heels currently lead the ACC and sit 12th nationally in holding its opponents to a 34.7 % clip from the field.
In holding four of of its opponents this season under 40 points, UNC ranks 12th in Division I basketball in scoring defense and once again leads the ACC by keeping its opponents to an average of 54.4 points per game.
The 2024-25 Tar Heels have already bested last season's squad who held only four opponents under 50-points the entire year in keeping eight at or below the mark and have held 11 of its 18 opponents to its lowest scoring game of their season when facing UNC.
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 by UNC 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 14-4 overall.
SHARE THE ROCK
Rolling deep, the Tar Heels pose multiple scoring threats with nine different players recording double-figure games this season.
18 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 25-game streak with a made triple.
This stretch dating back to last season is the longest of the fifth-year's career.
Donarski currently averages 2.00 triples per game to rank 11th among players in the ACC.
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 seven out of 18 games this season.
Against Villanova, Nivar tallied a career-best six steals for a Tar Heel season best.
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
UNC has proven itself as one of the top ball handling teams in the country, ranking No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC in keeping turnovers to a minimum at 12.3 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. 7 nationally in active career assists with a total of 599.
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 61 games.
HOME SWEET HOME
The confines of Carmichael Arena are sweet to the Tar Heels, especially during non-conference action.
Under Banghart, UNC is 35-2 in non-conference home games.
THE FAB FRESHMEN
Scouring the United States for some of the nation's top talent, Banghart and Co. have brought in three freshman that have the chance to make an immediate impact for Carolina.
Lanie Grant, Blanca Thomas and Jordan Zubich comprise the freshman class with the trio bringing in a plethora of high school and club accolades.
Grant chose to reclassify to the class of 2024 and forgo her final season of high school to join the Tar Heels early.
A Carolina native, Thomas hopes to provide assistance on the interior and a strong defensive presence. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year by the Charlotte Observer, Thomas led Charlotte Catholic to back-to-back final four appearances in the state tournament.
Joining Ustby as the second Minnesota native on the team, Zubich is coming off of an electric prep career where she scored over 3,000 career points. A graduate of Mountain Iron-Buhl High School, Zubich was touted as the No. 69 player in the Class of 2024 by ESPN's HoopGurlz.
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 306. With 146 career appearances, she also ranks No. 6 in active games played.
A walking double-double, Ustby's 1121 career rebounds have her fifth nationally. Her 45 double-doubles have her fifth nationally among active players.
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 197 and ranks 12th among active players.
MILESTONE TRACKER
MARIA GAKDENG
• 2 blocks away from 200 career.
• 5 assists away from 100 career.
GRACE TOWNSEND
• 192 points away from 1,500 career.
• 1 assist away from 600 career.
ALYSSA USTBY
• 127 rebounds from No. 1 in program history.
• 4 rebounds from No. 6 in program history
• 47 points from moving into 18th overall in scoring at UNC.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Carolina remains on the road, taking a trip north to Pitt on Sunday to wrap up its away swing.
Tip against the Panthers is slated for 2 p.m. ET, airing on ACC Network.
