University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
16-3,4-2ACC
SMU
10-8,2-4ACC
Carolina Smothers SMU in Dallas, 64-33
January 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball
DALLAS – Facing off against one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's newest members, No. 14 North Carolina women's basketball's defense continues to shine in a 64-33 rout of SMU from Moody Coliseum on Thursday night. The Tar Heels made an impact off the glass against one of the conference's top rebounding teams, with Alyssa Ustby grabbing a career-high 18 boards.
As North Carolina (16-3, 4-2 ACC) held SMU (10-8, 2-4 ACC) to its fewest points scored this season and the second fewest points allowed in an ACC game in UNC history, the Tar Heels moved to 3-0 in true road games for the first time since the 2013-14 season. In keeping the Mustangs to only 19.4% from the field, the Tar Heels set a best in field goal percentage allowed in ACC action under head coach Courtney Banghart.
Powered by the trio of Lexi Donarski, Indya Nivar and Ustby, the Tar Heels held its eighth opponent of the season to 50 points or less. Ustby almost jumped out of the gym, tying her career-high with 18 rebounds while Carolina snagged 52 as a team. Adding 12 points, Ustby tallied her eighth double-double of the season.
Shooting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, Donarski felt it in Moody Coliseum and ended her night with 15 points. Donarski drained five or more three's for the sixth time in her Tar Heel career.
On her 21st birthday, Nivar posted an all-around night with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists for her seventh double-figure outing of the season.
In a night for career milestones, Maria Gakdeng reached the 200-career block mark with two rejections while Grace Townsend eclipsed the 600-career assist mark with three dimes.
Carolina took off on a 7-0 run in the opening minutes, continuing to suffocate its opponents on offense by holding the Mustangs scoreless for over half of the first quarter. Holding SMU to the fewest points allowed in an opening quarter this season, the Tar Heels jumped out to a 13-6 lead through one.
Ustby caught fire, with Carolina's first six points of the quarter while on the opposite end SMU struggled to make its way past UNC's defense. With SMU missing its first nine shots of the field, Carolina limited the impact from the Mustangs by holding them to a mere four field goals in the first half alone. As the Tar Heels caused damage on the inside with 20 points in the paint, UNC carried its lead at 31-14 heading into the break.
Points came at a premium early in the third, as the Tar Heels remained all over the Mustangs to maintain a double-figure advantage. Beyond the arc, Donarski remained hot as Carolina extended its hold by as many as 20. By keeping the Mustangs in single-digits once again, the Tar Heels carried its lead at 44-22 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Donarski did not cool off, with back-to-back trey's as Carolina began to close the door on SMU. Electrifying the bench in the closing minutes with a Sydney Barker three, Carolina ran off to a 31-point victory in its first ever meeting against SMU, 64-33.
Carolina remains on the road, visiting Pitt for a Sunday afternoon meeting. The Tar Heels look for their sixth consecutive win over the Panthers at 2 p.m. ET, airing nationally on ACC Network.
