University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
13-3,1-2ACC
#3 Notre Dame
12-2,3-0ACC
WBB Unable To Push Past No. 3 Notre Dame
January 5, 2025 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In its first game of the new year, No. 17 North Carolina put up a fight against No. 3 Notre Dame but fell short, 76-66, from Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon. Maria Gakdeng paced the Tar Heels with 16 points for her fifth straight game in double-figures.
Facing its second top-five opponent of the season, Carolina (13-3, 1-2 ACC) could not overcome the nation's best three-point shooting team in Notre Dame (12-2, 3-0 ACC). As a team, the Fighting Irish drained 13 threes at a 61.9% clip from beyond the arc. Touted as one of the nation's best teams defensively, Carolina forced Notre Dame to cough up 21 turnovers.
Gakdeng led Carolina in scoring with 16 points, while Alyssa Ustby put up her sixth double-double of the season off of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Lexi Donarski joined the pair in double-digits with 11 points, as she drained at least three triples for the sixth game this season.
Carolina remained a dominant presence in the paint early on, feeding Gakdeng with UNC scoring 10 of its 16 points in the opening quarter on the inside. Despite Notre Dame hitting five made threes within the first 10 minutes, Carolina kept pace with the Irish, trailing by two possessions at 20-16 through one.
With the Tar Heel offense slowing down, the Irish remained hot from beyond the arc in order to extend its advantage over Carolina. On the defensive end, Carolina forced the Irish to cough up the ball at a double-figure rate of 11 in the first half to remain competitive. Going through Gakdeng leading with eight points in the first half, UNC headed into the locker room facing a 42-28 deficit at the break.
Coming into the second half hot on a 7-0 run, Carolina came within five of the Irish as it began to hit a groove. Notre Dame fired back, as the Irish remained on a tear from beyond the arc, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from deep in the third quarter. Gakdeng and Ustby worked to reach the rim and keep within striking distance, trailing 61-52 through the third quarter.
Draining back-to-back threes of their own, the Tar Heels once again brought the game within single digits, trailing 66-58 with under seven minutes remaining. With the energy palpable throughout Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels worked to string together stops to slow down Notre Dame yet couldn't slow down the Irish, falling 76-66.
Carolina remains in Chapel Hill to host No. 14 Duke in its first of two meetings this season on Thursday from Carmichael Arena. The rivalry continues at 7 p.m. ET, airing on ACC Network.
