University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
California
Tar Heels To Ring In New Year Hosting Cal
December 31, 2025 | Women's Basketball
NO. 16/15 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (12-3, 1-1 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 137-67 (7th season)
Career Record: 391-170 (19th season)
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (9-5, 0-1 ACC)
Head Coach: Charmin Smith (Stanford, 1997)
Record at Cal: 90-94 (7th season)
Career Record: Same
GAME COVERAGE
TV: ACC Network
PxP: Kevin Brown
Analyst: Debbie Antonelli
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, WCHL 97.9/1360
• Matt Krause
TIPPING OFF
• There's no place like home as the Tar Heels return to Carmichael for a week, hosting both ACC California schools by starting with the California Golden Bears to ring in the New Year on Thursday.
• Coming off a dominant ACC road win at Boston College on Monday, Carolina came away with a 51-point victory for its largest ever in program history over a league foe. Scoring 90 points against the Eagles was also the largest against an ACC school since December 2020.
• Scoring a game-high and season-best 19 points, Nyla Harris became one of four players this season to score the mark in a game this year. The senior shot an efficient 9-of-11 from the field in 18 minutes of action.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
Coming off of an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, California enters the remainder of league play at 9-5 overall.
Lulu Twindale has been a dominant force for the Bears, averaging 13.9 points per game. After transferring from South Carolina, Sakima Walker has turned into one of the nation's best shot blockers with an average of 1.93 rejections per game.
In its lone ACC contest of the season, Cal came up short against Stanford 78-69 on the Cardinal's home court.
SERIES HISTORY VS. CAL
Meeting for the second time as Atlantic Coast Conference foes, Carolina holds the all-time advantage over Cal at 3-2.
The Golden Bears visit Chapel Hill for the first time since 1999, where the Tar Heels own two wins over Cal.
In last season's lone meeting, Reniya Kelly carried Carolina in the 65-52 ranked road win with a team-high 16 points.
LAST TIME OUT
Carolina's offense came rearing to go after a week off for the holidays, cruising to a 90-39 win on Monday at Boston College.
Nyla Harris posted an efficient outing, with a season-high 19 points in 18 minutes of play. She also led all with a game-high nine rebounds.
The Nylas had a night, as Nyla Brooks tallied 15 points off 5-of-8 shooting and added two assists.
Carolina continues to share the ball as a team, recording a season-high 24 assists. Dishing out a career-best five helpers, Lanie Grant paced the Tar Heels.
SCORING EARLY, SCORING OFTEN
With all 14 Tar Heels hitting the court at Boston College, Carolina posted an eye-popping 90 points in its win over the Eagles.
It marked the most points scored in an ACC game for UNC since 92 against Syracuse on Dec. 17, 2020. The 90 points scored in Chestnut Hill were also the most in an ACC road victory since dropping 92 at Boston College in February of 2009.
Dating back to the 2000 season, North Carolina has scored 90-plus points in an ACC game 30 times.
The 51-point victory was also Carolina's best to date of the season and its best in any ACC game in program history.
HERE COMES RK
Working her way back from injury, Reniya Kelly is starting to find her footing as the Tar Heels enter the throes of conference play.
At Boston College, Kelly scored a season-high nine points and was all over the court with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and, one block.
TAR HEELS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
Carolina hits the court for only the second time in program history on New Year's Day when it takes on California on Thursday.
The Tar Heels last played on New Year's Day in 2023, falling short at Virginia Tech.
PASS THE BALL
Dishing out the ball at a high rate, 24 assists at Boston College marked a new season-high for UNC. Carolina has dished out 20 or more assists in five games this season.
Lanie Grant dropped a new career-high with five assists at Boston College, while overall 11 Tar Heels dished out an assist in the road victory.
Overall, Carolina has dished out 15+ assists in 11 games this year. Indya Nivar currently paces Carolina with 3.4 dimes per game.
STACKING WINS EARLY
Rattling off 11 wins against non-conference foes accomplished a new feat for Courtney Banghart in her time at Carolina.
It marked the first time Carolina had reached 11 wins in non-conference action in back-to-back seasons under Banghart, and the first time since the 2012-13 season.
ALL HANDS IN
As all 14 Tar Heels entered the game against UNCW, Carolina's reserves made a strong impact against the Seahawks.
The Carolina bench posted 49 points, the most in a game this season. Averaging 32.5 points per game from its reserves, Carolina ranks No. 2 in the ACC and No. 7 nationally in bench points per game.
11 out of 12 wins this season have come when the Tar Heel bench outscores their opponent.
COUGH IT UP
Forcing 20 or more turnovers in eight games this season, Carolina is averaging 19.40 per game from its opponents to rank fourth overall in the ACC.
Last year, Carolina forced 13 teams to turnover the ball 20 or more times.
Currently, Carolina is averaging 22.53 points per game off opponent miscues.
GLASS - CLEANED
Accumulating 54 rebounds against UNCW set a new season-high off the glass for the Tar Heels. Carolina also earned its second game of the season with a rebounding margin of +20, with a margin of +25 over the Seahawks.
Under Banghart, Carolina has tallied 10 total games with 50 or more rebounds.
LOCK DOWN DEFENSE
Aggressive defense is a focal point under head coach Courtney Banghart, and her teams have proven so.
In year seven of the Banghart era, the Tar Heels have held 50 opponents under the 50-point threshold. This season, UNC has kept seven opponents under the mark.
The Tar Heels are 48-2 under Banghart when holding opponents to fewer than 50 points.
By limiting Boston College to 39 points, Carolina has now held 15 teams under Banghart below the 40-point threshold.
HENDERSON STAYING HOT
Growing into her role during her freshman campaign, Taliyah Henderson found her footing against Boston University and UNCW.
The Vail, Ariz., native posted back-to-back double-figure outings for the first time in her career against BU and Louisville. Against Boston University, she also added a career-high four steals.
BOUNCE BACK
This season, Carolina is 3-0 in its next game when coming off a loss.
Overall, the Tar Heels are 37-24 under Courtney Banghart off a loss and 27-11 since the start of the 2021-22 season.
NO SHOTS HERE
Limiting Boston University and Boston College to a mere 13 made field goals, marked the fewest allowed in a game by the Tar Heels this season.
Carolina limited UNCW to only four points in the fourth quarter, the lowest by any opponent in a quarter this year.
In the second quarter at Boston College, UNC held the Eagles to only five points, the fewest by an ACC team this season.
KEEPING ALL INVOLVED
Already proving to be one of Carolina's best offenses under Courtney Banghart, Carolina's scoring options are plentiful, as eight different Tar Heels have recorded double-figure games.
Nine out of 12 of Carolina's wins this season have come when four or more Tar Heels record double-figures in scoring.
Indya Nivar paces this trend, scoring 10 or more points in 14 out of 15 games this season.
STEALS ON STEALS ON STEALS
Always having her eye on the ball, Indya Nivar has proven to be one of the most tenacious defenders in the nation.
Nivar currently ranks No. 9 overall nationally with a total of 48 steals and No. 24 with 3.20 steals per game.
GOING STREAKING
Riding a 34-game home win streak against unranked non-conference opponents, Carolina took care of business and earned wins.
During this streak, Carolina boasts a margin of victory of 38.3 points in the 34 consecutive wins dating back to 2019.
THRIVING IN PARADISE
Rattling off three wins in three days at the 2025 Cancun Challenge, North Carolina picked up its second straight multi-team event title and its fifth under Banghart.
Indya Nivar took home Cancun Challenge Tournament MVP honors, while Lanie Grant earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
NOTHING BUT NET
In the first edition of the 2025-26 NCAA Women's Basketball NET, North Carolina came in at No. 13 overall.
The Tar Heels have already earned two quad-two wins this season, defeating No. 39 Fairfield and No. 49 South Dakota State.
Heading into Thursday's game against Cal, Carolina sits at No. 17 in the NET.
CAN'T STOP HER
Lately, opponents can't stop Indya Nivar from scoring or scoring on her. In Cancun, Nivar stuffed the stat sheet and averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.7 steals, and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 56.3% from the floor.
Nivar is the first player in the Banghart era to snag four or more steals in three straight games.
Her seven assists against Kansas State were the most by any Tar Heel in a single game this season and set a new career high for the senior.
Her play in Cancun earned her ACC Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career. Reniya Kelly joins her as the only two active Tar Heels to earn the distinction.
THREES ON THREES ON THREES
When Carolina shoots from beyond the arc, there's a high chance it's going in. Against Kansas State, the Tar Heels knocked down 14 made triples.
The mark tied the program record, which had been previously set 11 times. Knocking down 14 triples against the Wildcats marked the third time under Banghart in which Carolina reached the threshold.
Carolina's performance against Kansas State from deep also set a new standard. With four straight games with 10 or more triples, it's the first time in available program records that Carolina has achieved the feat.
This season, Carolina has already knocked down 10-plus triples in eight games. Carolina has already matched last season's mark of eight games with double-figure triples.
One of the best three-point shooting teams nationally, Carolina leads the ACC from beyond the arc at a 36.4% clip and ranks second with 9.1 triples per game.
HISTORY - WRITTEN
In a historic performance, Indya Nivar's triple-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 steals marked the second triple-double in the rich history of Carolina women's basketball.
Nivar joins former teammate Alyssa Ustby as the only two Tar Heels to achieve the feat.
Her 10 steals also etched her name again in the Carolina record books, matching the program single-game record set by Pam Leake in 1985.
Nivar is the second ACC player to record a triple-double this season, and the 50th in the history of the conference.
By recording a triple-double with steals, Nivar is the fourth to accomplish the feat in the history of the league.
RUNNING DEEP
Depth is a huge factor for the Tar Heels this season, as they currently average 32.5 points per game from their reserves. Carolina's bench scoring ranks No. seven nationally and second overall in the ACC.
Coming off the bench, Nyla Brooks leads the reserves with 10.9 points per game.
RAINING THREES
The three-ball is flying this season for the Tar Heels, as Carolina knocked down 10 or more against UNCG, South Dakota State, Kansas State and Columbia.
It's the first time in the Banghart era that Carolina has achieved the feat with 10+ in four consecutive games.
Nyla Brooks led the charge, shooting 15-of-27 from deep during the stretch.
SHE'S JUST A FRESHMAN
With the confidence Nyla Brooks brings to the court, she has already asserted herself as one of the nation's top freshmen.
Posting a performance of perfection against UNCG, Brooks scored a career-high 18 points while shooting 7-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Brooks' outing vs. the Spartans propelled her to earn her first ACC Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 24. She's the first freshman to pick up the honor for Carolina since the 2023 season. Overall, Carolina leads the ACC with 84 Freshmen of the Week selections.
Her scoring has remained consistent, as she's the first freshman Tar Heel to score in double figures in five of her first six games since Jocelyn Jones and Janelle Bailey both did so in 2017.
CT'S COMING
The development of Ciera Toomey has been undeniable, as the redshirt-sophomore's work in the offseason is now shining.
Posting a career-high 19 points against UNCG, Toomey also dished out a career-best four assists.
Toomey's presence in the paint is assisting Carolina to post an average of 39.7 points per game in the paint. The Tar Heels have posted 50+ point games in the paint three times this season.
RIGHT ON TARGET
The shots were falling against UNCG, as Carolina ended up shooting 39-of-59 from the field for a percentage of 66.1%.
This mark ranked No. 2 in a single-game field goal percentage at UNC and holds the record in the Banghart era.
The mark is the second-highest field goal percentage by an ACC team this season.
WINNING IS A TRADITION
Throughout the history of North Carolina women's basketball, it has boasted 30 20-win seasons.
A win over South Dakota State gave Carolina its 1,100th program victory. The Tar Heels became the 17th Division I women's program to reach the mark and the third in the ACC.
BROOKS LOVES THE DEEP BALL
Making a strong impact during her freshman campaign, Nyla Brooks is proving her prowess from beyond the arc.
She currently leads the Tar Heels with 36 made triples and leads the ACC among freshmen with an average of 2.40 per game, and is third overall in the league. Nationally, she ranks 10th among freshmen in threes per game.
Brooks is firing off the three-ball at a 44.4% clip, to rank No. 2 in the ACC and third nationally among rookies.
AN EMERGING LEADER
In her final season in Carolina Blue, Indya Nivar is making it count as she has posted double-digits in each outing this year.
The Apex, N.C., native started her season with a career-long streak of 14 consecutive games in double-figure scoring.
She currently leads Carolina with an average of 11.8 points per game.
Not only is Nivar showing her leadership on the offensive end, but she is also shining on defense. Her 3.20 steals per game rank third in the ACC, and her 48 total rank ninth nationally.
LET IT FLY
The three-ball has been good to the Tar Heels this season, as Carolina has knocked down 126 triples to date.
Last year, the Tar Heels set a new program record with a total of 269 made threes in 2024-25.
NO I IN TEAM
In seven of its 15 games, Carolina has posed a balanced scoring attack with at least five Tar Heels scoring 10+ points.
Eight different Tar Heels have tallied double-figure outings so far this season, with Indya Nivar scoring 10 or more points in 14 out of 15 games.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
With plenty of noise surrounding Nyla Brooks, the true freshman sure delivered against NC Central. The Waldorf, Md., product led all scorers with 15 points, while shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Brooks became the first freshman to lead Carolina in scoring in its opening game since Deja Kelly scored 19 points against Radford in 2020.
Following up her opening day performance with 10 points against Elon, Brooks continued the streak by Kelly set in 2020.
DOMINATE THE GLASS
The glass was sure kept clean against the Eagles, with the Tar Heels outrebounding NC Central by a margin of +28, with UNC grabbing 48 rebounds.
The feat marked the second-best margin by any ACC squad on the opening day of college basketball and No. 15 overall nationally.
Ciera Toomey and Nyla Harris led this charge, with each recording a double-double against NC Central. Toomey tallied a career-high 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Harris added 12 points and 10 boards.
It was the 11th game under Banghart in which two players posted double-doubles.
SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT
Opening the season on a loud note, Carolina packed Carmichael on its Field Trip Day with a total of 6,336 in attendance.
The number broke the attendance record in Carmichael during the Banghart era.
NO PLACE LIKE CARMICHAEL
In the only home in the history of Carolina women's basketball, the Tar Heels have traditionally held home-court advantage. Carolina is 41-2 under Banghart in home non-conference games and has won 34 straight games against unranked non-conference teams at home.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Courtney Banghart -
- 391 career wins
- Nine away from 400 - would be one of 47 active head coaches with 400 wins.
• Nyla Harris -
- 935 career points
- 65 away from 1,000.
• Indya Nivar -
- 179 career steals
- 21 away from 200.
WHAT'S NEXT
Remaining at home in Chapel Hill, Carolina faces a tough Stanford squad from Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The Tar Heels welcome the Cardinal at 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 4, airing nationally on ESPN.
