University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
No. 14 WBB Survives Boston College In ACC Tournament Second Round
March 6, 2025 | Women's Basketball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Fighting past an upset-minded Boston College squad, No. 14 North Carolina fought for all 40 minutes to shake off the Eagles, 78-71 in the second round of the 2025 Ally ACC Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday afternoon. The Tar Heels advance to the quarterfinals to face off against fourth seeded Florida State on Friday.
In reaching its 26th win of the season, North Carolina (26-5, 13-4 ACC) picked up its second ACC Tournament win in the Courtney Banghart era by toppling Boston College (16-17, 6-12 ACC). The Tar Heels reached 26 wins in a season for the first time since 2014-15.
Notching her second 20-point game this season to pace the Tar Heels, Lexi Donarski knocked down five triples to lead all scorers. Donarski's five made three's set the record for the most in an ACC Tournament game in the Banghart era. As a team, Carolina knocked down nine made triples to set a team record as well.
Indya Nivar remains on a hot streak, recording her third straight game in double-digit scoring with 14 points and tied her career-high with five assists. Returning to the line-up after missing four games due to injury, Alyssa Ustby posted a solid outing with 11 points, six rebounds and one assist.
In her first ACC Tournament game, Lanie Grant tallied 11 points for her 11th game this year in double-digit scoring. Carrying Carolina off the glass, Maria Gakdeng led the team with eight rebounds and added eight rebounds and two blocks.
Right from the jump, Carolina came out rearing to go with an 11-0 run. Shutting down the Eagles for most of the first quarter, Boston College began to heat up from beyond the arc. Knocking down four made threes in the first 10 minutes, Boston College climbed back as Carolina maintained an 18-14 lead through one.
A Crisp three opened the second, as Carolina worked to slow down Boston College from beyond the arc. Knocking down her second three of the quarter, Crisp gave the Tar Heels an eight point cushion. Maintaining that margin for most of the second quarter to remain ahead, Boston College kept fighting back by going to work within the paint. Donarski remained strong from three in the first half while the Tar Heels cashed in 13 points off of BC turnovers, as Carolina led Boston College by six at 36-30 at the break.
Trading triples back-and-forth, Carolina built its lead back up to double-digits early in the third as Nivar and Donarski kept the Tar Heels humming. Facing a bit of a scoring drought, Boston College poured on the points to grab its first lead over the Tar Heels with two minutes left in the quarter. Back-to-back buckets from Townsend and Donarski from the inside gave the Tar Heels a three point lead, until BC drained a last second three to end the third quarter tied at 54 all.
As the Eagles continued to drain the three-ball at a high rate, Carolina found itself facing its largest deficit of the day at 63-54 with eight minutes remaining. Locking down Boston College for over two minutes, the Tar Heels cut BC's lead to one with three minutes left on the clock. Forcing multiple Golden Eagle turnovers, the Tar Heels took off on a 7-0 run to re-take the lead and keep putting on the pressure. Donarski's fifth three of the day energized Carolina and put it ahead by seven with less than two minutes to-go. Limiting Boston College to three points in the final stretch, Donarski sealed the victory at the free throw line for Carolina to stay alive, 78-71.
The Tar Heels advance to their third ACC Tournament Quarterfinal in the Banghart era and first since 2023, taking on Florida State on Friday at 11 a.m. ET from First Horizon Coliseum. The meeting against the Seminoles will air on ESPN2.
