University of North Carolina Athletics
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23-4,11-3ACC
#10 NC State
20-5,12-2ACC
No. 12 Carolina Holds On, Knocks Off No. 10 NC State
February 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Meeting for the 17th time when both ranked, another rivalry match-up between No. 12 North Carolina women's basketball and No. 10 NC State took all 40 minutes of action for the Tar Heels to come away the victors, 66-65 from Carmichael Arena on Sunday. Carolina has now won the last three against the Wolfpack in Chapel Hill.
Picking up its first top-10 win of the season, North Carolina (23-4, 11-3 ACC) snapped a nine-game NC State (20-5, 12-2 ACC) winning streak as the Tar Heels have now won their last five contests.
Reniya Kelly remains on a tear, scoring a career-high 23 points against the Wolfpack with five made threes. Kelly has now scored in double-figures the last six games, including back-to-back 20 point performances. Backing her up, Lexi Donarski tallied double-digits with 10 points including two made triples. Maria Gakdeng posted 10 points and led the Tar Heels with eight boards.
Carolina earned its fourth ranked win of the season, and third at home to move to 13-7 all-time in the Banghart era against ranked foes in Carmichael Arena.
Remaining hot, Kelly came out rearing to go with the first eight of UNC's points on the day. Finding its way to the free throw line, NC State jumped out to an early lead over the Tar Heels at 19-12 through the first quarter in what proved to be a physical affair.
Kicking off the second frame with back-to-back buckets, the Tar Heels defense began to shut down the Wolfpack and limit their looks from the field. A 13-0 Carolina run electrified Carmichael, as the Tar Heels made their presence known in the paint. Holding NC State to a mere four points in the second quarter for the fewest allowed in a single-frame this season, Carolina boasted a seven point lead at 30-23 heading into halftime.
Remaining hot, a Grant three right out of the break let the Tar Heels pick up where they left off and extend its advantage to double-figures. The Wolfpack fought back, cutting the Carolina advantage to three off a 6-0 run with two minutes remaining in the third. Donarski hit her second three of the night with 1:20 left in the third, before an NC State jumper once again cut the UNC lead to three at 48-45 heading into the fourth.
Knotted up at 50 with under eight minutes on the clock, a three from Kelly and a make from the line by Gakdeng put the Tar Heels up at 54-50 with a little over six minutes remaining. Fighting back, NC State took off on a 10-0 run to extend its advantage over UNC by six with time on the Wolfpack's side at 2:43 in the fourth. Firing back, a Donarski three provided a spark to the Tar Heels until NC State shot back with a three of its own.
Facing a six point deficit with 110 seconds remaining, Kelly once again proved her grit with a made three to cut the NC State lead in half. Despite giving up a layup to the Wolfpack, Carolina made its way to the charity stripe with two makes from Grant followed by her driving to the basket the ensuing possession to trail by one point with 39 seconds left. Coming up big on the defensive end, Carolina locked NC State down to earn the ball back with 11 ticks on the clock. It was Grace Townsend driving and drawing the foul to earn a trip to the line for the chance to seal a Carolina victory. Staying calm, two makes from Townsend pushed Carolina ahead 66-65 to come away with the thrilling win over the No. 10 Wolfpack.
The Tar Heels head back out on the road, taking a trip North to Syracuse on Thursday. Tipoff against the Orange from JMA Wireless Dome is set for 6 p.m. ET, streaming on ACCNX.
