University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Syracuse
No. 9 WBB Heads North, Visits Syracuse Thursday
February 19, 2025 | Women's Basketball
NO. 9/10 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
(23-4, 11-3 ACC)
Head Coach:Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 119-60 (6th season)
Career Record: 372-163 (18th season)
SYRACUSE ORANGE
(10-15 ,4-10 ACC)
Head Coach: Felisha Legette-Jack (Syracuse, 1989)
Record at Syracuse: 54-36 (3rd season)
Career Record: 397-315 (23rd season)
TIPPING OFF
• Winning five straight and 10 of its last 11 games, North Carolina heads back out on the road with a trip North to Syracuse and look to move to 8-0 on the road.
• Coming off of its first top-10 win of the season in a nailbiter against No. 10 NC State from Carmichael Arena on Sunday, Carolina entered the top-10 of the AP Poll at No. 9 for its highest ranking of the season. The Tar Heels have not been ranked in the top-10 of the poll since the 2008-09 season
• Asserting herself as one of the ACC's top point guards, Reniya Kelly's back-to-back 20-point outings earned her ACC Player of the Week honors on Monday.
SCOUTING THE ORANGE
Despite sitting at 10-15 overall and 4-10 in ACC action, Syracuse is one of the league's best teams off the offensive glass in averaging 14.9 rebounds per game to rank second.
The Orange also prove to be aggressive around the rim, averaging 4.3 blocks per game.
At home, the Orange are 6-7 overall with two ACC wins.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SYRACUSE
In the tightly contested series, Carolina trails Syracuse 7-8 all-time.
The Tar Heels are looking for their first win over the Orange in Syracuse since 2000 as 'Cuse leads 4-1 on its home court.
LAST TIME OUT
Fighting for all 40 minutes, it came down to the wire for Carolina to push past No. 10 NC State for the narrow 66-65 win in Carmichael Arena.
Despite trailing by six with a 1:50 remaining on the clock, a little Carmichael magic and grit from the Tar Heels allowed them to pull through down the stretch and earn their first top-10 win of the season.
Remaining one of the hottest players in the nation, Reniya Kelly posted a career-high 23 points to lead the Tar Heels in its third consecutive win over the Wolfpack in Chapel Hill.
THAT'S OUR PG1
Recording back-to-back 20-point performances for the first time by a Tar Heel this season, Reniya Kelly is hitting her stride heading into crunch time of the season.
Tying her then career-high with 20 points against Virginia Tech and following that up with 23 points against NC State, Kelly was then named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week.
Kelly picked up conference accolades for the first time in her career, becoming the fourth player under Banghart to earn the distinction and the first since 2022.
STACKING WINS
Earning its 23rd win of the year on Sunday, the Tar Heels have matched the most in the regular season in the Courtney Banghart era.
A win on Thursday would give Carolina its most in a regular season since the 2012-13 Tar Heels notched 26.
KEEP ON CLIMBING
In the latest edition of the AP Poll, Carolina came in at No. 9 for its highest ranking of the season.
The No. 9 slot is the highest for the Tar Heels since the 12/19 edition of the poll in 2022 where Carolina came in ranked No. 6.
Carolina was last ranked in the top-10 of the AP Poll at this point of the season at No. 10 on 2/16/09.
ROAD WARRIORS
Moving to 7-0 in true road games with the victory at Clemson, the Tar Heels are now off to their best start away since the 2005-06 season.
Sitting at 6-0 on the road in ACC action is Carolina's best start within the conference since 2007-08 for the fifth time in school history.
The Tar Heels are one of two teams in the nation who have yet to falter on the road.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels are 20-28 overall against AP Top-25 teams and 13-7 against ranked opponents at home.
This season the Tar Heels are 4-3 against ranked foes, previously taking on then No. 2 UConn, No. 14 Kentucky, No. 25 Georgia Tech, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 14 Duke, No. 19 California and No. 10 NC State.
LYSS KEEPS ON CLIMBING
Each game, Alyssa Ustby keeps inching closer and closer to numerous marks in the Carolina history books.
She currently ranks No. 16 in career points at Carolina with a total of 1,722. Ustby needs three points to eclipse the top-15 threshold.
In double-figures off the glass against Virginia Tech, Ustby crossed the 1,200 career rebound mark and passed Charlotte Smith (1992-95) to move into No. 2 at UNC with 1,210 rebounds.
Ustby is 41 away from becoming the all-time rebounding queen at Carolina, on the brink of passing Bernadette McGlade (1977-80) who accumulated 1,251 boards as a Tar Heel.
SOPHOMORE JUMP
Tearing it up throughout year two for Reniya Kelly in Chapel Hill, the Hoover, Alabama native has made a big jump as she progresses throughout her sophomore campaign.
Improving her scoring by over 45%, Kelly has recorded six consecutive games in double-digit scoring for the first time in her career in the recent stretch.
She is also proving her prowess all over the court, grabbing a season-high eight rebounds at Clemson and has dished out three or more assists in eight games this year.
10-WIN ACC SEASONS
By defeating Virginia Tech, Carolina reached the 10-win mark in ACC action for the fourth straight season. The Tar Heels have now registered 25 seasons with double-digit conference wins.
The win over Virginia Tech gave Carolina its longest streak in 10+ ACC win seasons since 2002-09 when Carolina met the mark for seven consecutive seasons.
DEFENDING AT ALL COSTS
This Carolina defense is doing what few other Tar Heel teams have done in shutting down their opponents from the field.
Chasing program history, Carolina is currently holding its opponents to 55.7 points per game from the field which would set a season-best in the Courtney Banghart era.
In the 21st century, ony three previous Tar Heel teams have held opponents under 56.0 points per game in a season with the 2006-07 team being the best at 55.0.
BAY AREA BEASTS
Doing what no other ACC men's or women's basketball team had yet done, with two wins in the Bay Area, the Tar Heels became the first team in the conference to win both games out West.
In the new iteration of the conference, teams have struggled in crossing time zones yet Carolina prevailed despite the circumstances.
NO I IN TEAM
Coming away with back-to-back wins in the Bay Area, the Tar Heels found themselves garnering acclaim from across the country.
The Tar Heels were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Team of the Week.
Carolina also became the first ACC team to reach 20-wins and became the fastest Tar Heel team to reach the mark since the 2012-13 season.
TAR HEEL TERRITORY
By securing the 13-point victory over the then No. 19 ranked Golden Bears, Carolina has now earned a ranked win on the road in each of the last four seasons.
The margin of victory marks the largest ranked road win in the Courtney Banghart era and ties for the largest in program history since 2019 at No. 7 NC State.
ON POINT AND ON TARGET
Shooting at a 61.5% clip from the field this season, Maria Gakdeng is one of the most dominant presences throughout the ACC on the court and is extremely efficient in the paint.
Throughout her career, Gakdeng is shooting 59.8% from the field and has the chance to end her career in the top-five in ACC history.
A HELPING HAND
Dropping 20 assists total as a team against Florida State, the Tar Heels notched their most against an ACC opponent to date this season.
Led by Grace Townsend with six helpers, Carolina earned its third 20+ assist game of the season and the sixth in ACC action under Courtney Banghart.
FEELIN' IT FROM THE FIELD
The Tar Heels lit up the floor in the second half against Wake Forest, shooting a season second half-high of 67.% en route to an ACC game-best 56.6% from the field.
Carolina hit over 50% of its shots for the third game this season and the second time in ACC action.
Under Banghart, Carolina has shot over 50% against ACC opponents in nine games.
THE BEST KIND OF HEIST
It's no secret that Carolina's defense can limit its opponents, yet the Tar Heels have been taking what's theirs in the three game stretch against SMU, Pitt and Wake Forest with 10+ steals in each.
This defense is doing what few other Carolina teams have done, earning 10+ steals in three straight ACC games for the first time since the 2015 Tar Heels did so in six consecutive games.
Indya Nivar has been leading this charge, averaging 2.1 swipes per outing.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
Shutting down Wake Forest off the glass, Carolina limited the Demon Deacons to only 20 rebounds in the outing.
It marks the fewest rebounds allowed in a single-game since only giving up 18 boards in 2021 against UNC Asheville and the fewest against an ACC opponent in the Banghart era.
ALL THINGS CLICKING
With the win over Wake Forest, Carolina cemented its best start in the Courtney Banghart era with 18 wins through 21 games.
It also marked the best start since the Tar Heels began the 2012-13 season at 19-2.
The Tar Heels have also earned 12 wins by 20+ points this season, the second most in the Banghart era. The 2021-22 Carolina squad defeated 13 opponents by a 20+ margin.
WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT
Heating up from beyond the arc, Carolina felt the energy throughout the team from beyond the arc with six Tar Heels combining for an ACC game-high 13 three's against Pitt.
The 13 made triples for the Tar Heels tied the most in an ACC game since draining 14 in 2019 against Georgia Tech.
Lexi Donarski felt it all week, draining a team-high five triples for the first time in her career making five or more three's in back-to-back games.
Donarski followed this up with five threes against Wake Forest to extend her streak to three consecutive game with five made triples.
JUMPED OUT THE GYM
As a team against SMU, Carolina grabbed a total of 52 rebounds for the second most in a single-game this season and the most since an ACC squad since facing off against Duke in 2022.
The feat was the seventh time a Banghart team had collected 50 or more rebounds against an ACC team.
Alyssa Ustby led the charge, tying her career-high with a total of 18 boards. Her performance was the most rebounds in a single-game by any ACC player this season.
Crushing Clemson off the glass, the Tar Heels snagged 42 rebounds to the Tigers 25 for a margin of +17 for the best against an ACC team this season.
MAKE IT COUNT
Any win in the ACC is crucial to a team's NCAA Tournament chances and Carolina made a statement in its victory over SMU.
The 31-point victory over the Mustangs was UNC's third ACC win by 30 plus points in the Courtney Banghart era.
This season when facing off against unranked opponents, Carolina is 19-1.
LOCK 'EM UP
Carolina limited SMU to very few good looks from the field, shutting down the Mustangs to a field goal percentage of 19.4%.
The defensive mark is the best against an ACC foe in the Courtney Banghart era.
WE'VE GOT A NEW TAR HEEL!
Enrolling early at UNC to join the Tar Heels for the spring semester, Taissa Queiroz will join the fold and practice with the team for the remainder of the season.
A four-star prospect by ESPN, a native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil prepped in the Bay Area before signing with the Tar Heels.
The 6-1 guard was named the San Francisco Chronicle Co-North Bay Player of the Year and was ranked a Top-Five Player on the West Coast by Preps-Bay Area.
KEYS TO A DUB
When it comes to the Tar Heels earning a win, 18 of their 23 wins have had multiple correlations.
Carolina's defense must get it done, holding all victories but three under 60 points or less and provide a little breathing room with all wins but five by 10 points or more.
DEFENSE IN OUR DNA
Carolina's defense has been one of the strongest in the country this season, ranking in the top-25 in multiple statistical categories.
The Tar Heels currently lead the ACC and sit 12th nationally in holding its opponents to a 35.6% clip from the field.
In holding five of of its opponents this season under 40 points, UNC ranks 23rd in Division I basketball in scoring defense and once again leads the ACC by keeping its opponents to an average of 55.7 points per game.
EXPERIENCE SPEAKS
With Lexi Donarski, Grace Townsend and Alyssa Ustby each boasting over 130 career appearances, the Tar Heels are touted as one of the most experienced teams in the nation.
UNC is one of five programs nationally with three players appearing in 130+ games, joining Boise State, Miami, Northern Arizona and Oklahoma.
BOUNCE BACK
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels are now 32-23 in their next game when coming off of a loss.
SHINING BRIGHT UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Tar Heels proved that they can handle the spotlight in its win over No. 14 Kentucky and sure made a statement of it.
The 19-point win over the Wildcats was the largest win against any AP Top-25 opponent since 2020 and its largest win over a top-15 ranked opponent since 2011.
In Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels are 12-7 against ranked opponents under Banghart.
RUNNING DEEP
The 2024-25 Tar Heel roster is full of talent, as Banghart can go deep in the roster in any game situation.
This season, UNC's bench has outscored 24 out of of its 27 opponents and averages 23.4 points per game from its reserves.
Seven Tar Heels currently average 5.0 points per game or higher.
BROUGHT THE FIREWORKS
The Tar Heels put on a memorable offensive performance against N.C. Central, recording a Banghart era high 119 points for the third most in program history.
Six Tar Heels scored in double-figures, with Alyssa Ustby leading the way with a season-high 24 points.
Carolina dished out a Banghart era best 28 assists, the most in a single-game in the past 20 seasons.
119 points tied Florida State in the most scored by an ACC team in a single-game this season.
DOUBLE-TROUBLE
As two of Carolina's fifth-year players, the duo of Lexi Donarski and Alyssa Ustby feed off one another's successes on the court.
When the pair both score in double-figures, the Tar Heels are 16-5 overall.
LET IT FLY LEX!
As one of the nation's best active three-point shooters, as she averages 2.23 triples per game to rank 10th among players in the ACC.
Overall, Donarski sits at No. 6 among active career leaders with 330 threes made.
WE'LL SWIPE THAT
The Tar Heels have been aggressive on the defensive end this season, powered by Reniya Kelly and Indya Nivar.
The Tar Heels have swiped 10 or more steals in 10 out of 27 games this season.
At Pitt, Nivar tallied a career-high seven steals for the most in a single-game in the Banghart era and the most by any player in an ACC game this season.
Nivar currently ranks sixth in ACC games with an average of 2.14 steals per contest.
NEED A DIME? GRACE'S GOT YOU
Already statistically proven as one of the best facilitators in college basketball, Grace Townsend continues to rack up assists in her first season in Chapel Hill.
The Richmond transfer currently sits at No. 8 nationally in active career assists with a total of 622.
Against UNCW, Townsend tallied eight assists against the Seahawks for a season-best. Throughout her career, Townsend has dished out five or more assists in 62 games.
THE FAB FRESHMEN
Scouring the United States for some of the nation's top talent, Banghart and Co. have brought in three freshman that have the chance to make an immediate impact for Carolina.
Grant chose to reclassify to the class of 2024 and forgo her final season of high school to join the Tar Heels early.
A Carolina native, Thomas hopes to provide assistance on the interior and a strong defensive presence.
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year by the Charlotte Observer, Thomas led Charlotte Catholic to back-to-back final four appearances in the state tournament.
Joining Ustby as the second Minnesota native on the team, Zubich is coming off of an electric prep career where she scored over 3,000 career points.
A graduate of Mountain Iron-Buhl High School, Zubich was touted as the No. 69 player in the Class of 2024 by ESPN's HoopGurlz.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
A mixture of youth and experience can be found throughout the Tar Heel roster, yet some of the vets on the team have proven their skills on a national level.
The duo of Donarksi and Ustby make them one of the most experienced pairs in the country, ranking in the top-10 in multiple categories among active players in Division I Basketball.
As a sharpshooter, Donarski currently sits at No. 6 in made three's with a total of 330. With 155 career appearances, she also ranks No. 6 in active games played.
A walking double-double, Ustby's 1211 career rebounds have her fifth nationally. Her 47 double-doubles have her sixth nationally among active players.
MILESTONE TRACKER
LEXI DONARSKI
• 12 assists from 300 career.
• 4 steals away from single-season best.
ALYSSA USTBY
• 41 rebounds from No. 1 in program history.
• 4 points from cracking the top-15 in scoring at UNC.
• 10 assists from 400.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Tar Heels remain on the road, heading to Louisville to face off against the Cardinals on Sunday.
Tip from the KFC Yum! Center is slated for 2 p.m. ET, airing nationally on ESPN.
