University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
18-4,6-3ACC
Florida State
16-4,6-2ACC
WBB Falls In Nailbiter To Florida State, 86-84
January 26, 2025 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 13 North Carolina kept pace with the No. 2 offense in the country in Florida State, yet fell in the final seconds off a buzzer beater from the Seminoles, 86-84 from Carmichael Arena on Sunday.
Despite scoring its highest amount of points in an ACC game this season, North Carolina (18-4, 6-3 ACC) couldn't slow down the nation's leading scorer in Ta'Niya Latson and Florida State (16-4, 6-2 ACC) with the Seminoles earning a last second layup to earn the victory over the Tar Heels.
Five Tar Heels scored in double-figures, with Maria Gakdeng leading the way with a season-best 21 points off of shooting 7-of-10 from the field. Earning her ninth double-double of the season, Alyssa Ustby tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds and dished out three assists. Reniya Kelly came in big for Carolina, with 16 points and a career-high six rebounds.
With 13 points, Lanie Grant recorded a double-figure outing for the third straight game, while Lexi Donarski remained hot with 12 points and four assists. Sharing the ball, Grace Townsend led Carolina with six assists, for a high in ACC play.
Florida State came out proving it was here to score and to score often, jumping out to a 7-0 advantage within the first 120 seconds of action. Picking itself up, Carolina relied off the three-ball from Donarski and Ustby to come within one possession through the quarter. Despite giving up a 7-0 run to Florida State, UNC responded with a 6-0 one of its own followed by an Ustby layup within the final seconds of the first, to come within 25-23 through one.
With the Seminoles hitting back-to-back three's to open the second, Carolina once again found itself having to play catch-up. Forcing Florida State into a multi-minute scoring drought, Carolina slowed the game down to its pace to again create a one possession game. Boosted by Kelly with eight points in the quarter, Carolina met the Seminoles at 40 all to tie for the first time of the day. Kelly followed with a fastbreak layup to snag the Tar Heels' first lead of the game. Responding quickly, Florida State nailed a deep triple to re-grab the lead, yet it was Kelly in the waning seconds with a jumper for UNC to carry a narrow 44-43 advantage into the break.
As both Carolina and Florida State came out trading blows, points came with a battle to reach the basket. A balanced attack from the Tar Heels kept them neck and neck with the Seminoles until a 6-0 run from UNC provided it with its largest lead to date at 58-53 with less than three minutes in the third. Latson kept driving through the lane for the Seminoles, as Florida State ran back ahead at 65-62 through three.
Re-gaining its lead off a 7-0 run midway through the fourth, Carolina jumped ahead by four at 73-69 with four minutes remaining as a three from Donarski electrified Carmichael Arena. Florida State fired back with another 7-0 run, to take back the lead from Carolina. Making its shots at the charity stripe, UNC once again went ahead at 81-80 with 18 seconds remaining. Florida State came up with a deep three, yet Kelly answered with a jumper to tie at 84 all. With three seconds remaining, Latson took over to send the Tar Heels home, with Florida State earning the 86-84 win over UNC.
Carolina takes the long trek out west this next week, first facing off against a No. 22 California team in Berkeley on Thursday. Tip from Haas Pavilion is slated for a 10 p.m. ET start, streaming on ACCNX.
