University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Tar Heels Hit The Road For Sunday Matinee At Notre Dame
January 10, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NO. 22/18 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (13-4, 2-2 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 138-68 (7th season)
Career Record: 392-171 (19th season)
RV/25 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Head Coach: Niele Ivey (Notre Dame, 2000)
Record at Notre Dame: 128-41 (6th season)
Career Record: Same
GAME COVERAGE
TV: ESPN
PxP: Mark Neely
Analyst: Debbie Antonelli
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, WCHL 97.9/1360
• Matt Krause
TIPPING OFF
• Heading back out on the road, Carolina heads to South Bend in search of its second win over Notre Dame on its home court. The last time the Tar Heels visited the Fighting Irish, they came away with a 61-57 victory.
• Running deep, the Tar Heels boast one of the best benches in Division I women's basketball. The Carolina reserves average 29.9 points per game, No. 2 overall in the ACC and No. 14th nationally. Overall, eight different Tar Heels have recorded a double-figure scoring game this year.
• Swiping the ball at a high rate, Indya Nivar has snagged a total of 56 steals to date. The senior is averaging 3.29 per game to rank third overall in the conference. Nivar is only 13 steals away from breaking her personal single-season high.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH
In year six under head coach Niele Ivey, the Fighting Irish sit at 11-4 overall and 3-2 in conference action.
Powered by All-America guard in Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame's offense is full of firepower as the Irish rank No. 1 in the league in scoring with 85.5 points per outing.
Notre Dame is knocking down shots at a high rate, ranking No. 1 in the ACC with an 49.0% field goal percentage.
Hidalgo ranks No. 2 nationally with an average of 24.7 points per game and leads the nation with a total of 88 steals.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NOTRE DAME
Dating back to the first meeting between the two programs in 1999, Notre Dame owns the all-time advantage at 11-5.
The Fighting Irish also hold the edge in South Bend at 5-1. In Carolina's last trip to Notre Dame, the Tar Heels came away with a narrow 61-57 victory for their first win on the Irish home court.
Under Courtney Banghart, the series is tied at 3-3 overall. In last season's lone meeting, Notre Dame came away with a 76-66 win in Chapel Hill.
LAST TIME OUT
Carolina could not fend off an aggressive Stanford squad off the boards, falling 77-71 to the Cardinal in overtime in Chapel Hill on Sunday.
Stanford's strong second-half attack limited UNC's scoring opportunities, despite spirited efforts from Nyla Harris and Ciera Toomey.
Harris led the Tar Heels in scoring with 18 points, while Toomey added 16.
Indya Nivar continues to be a thief, adding four steals and three assists.
B A L A N C E
In any given game, any Tar Heel has the chance to shine with four currently averaging double-figures in scoring for Carolina.
So far this season, eight different Tar Heels have led in scoring in a game, with eight overall posting double-figure outings.
Indya Nivar and Nyla Brooks have led Carolina in scoring in five games apiece this season.
SNEAK ATTACK
It's no secret that the Tar Heels love to defend, as UNC currently ranks No. 4 among ACC teams with an average of 10.7 steals per game.
In its last three outings, Carolina has posted double-figure steals with an ACC game-high 12 steals against California. Nyla Harris led the Tar Heels with a career-high five swipes against the Bears.
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.
She followed up her performance in Chestnut Hill with another nine points against California, adding two assists and two steals. Against Stanford, Kelly posted another nine-point outing and snagged two steals.
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 12 games this year. Indya Nivar currently paces Carolina with 3.6 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 29.9 points per game from its reserves, Carolina ranks No. 2 in the ACC and No. 14 nationally in bench points per game.
12 out of 13 wins this season have come when the Tar Heel bench outscores their opponent.
COUGH IT UP
Forcing 20 or more turnovers in 10 games this season, Carolina is averaging 19.71 per game from its opponents to rank third overall in the ACC.
Last year, Carolina forced 13 teams to turnover the ball 20 or more times.
Currently, Carolina is averaging 21.9 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 13 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 15 out of 17 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 56 steals and No. 20 with 3.29 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 Sunday's game at Notre Dame, Carolina sits at No. 18 in the NET.
A win Sunday in South Bend would be Carolina's first quad one win of the season.
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 ranks second in the ACC from beyond the arc at a 35.3% clip and ranks third with 8.7 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 29.9 points per game from their reserves. Carolina's bench scoring ranks No. 14 nationally and second overall in the ACC.
Coming off the bench, Nyla Brooks leads the reserves with 9.8 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 40.1 points per game in the paint. The Tar Heels have posted 50+ point games in the paint four 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 2.12 per game, and is seventh overall in the league. Nationally, she ranks 13th among freshmen in threes per game.
Brooks is firing off the three-ball at a 42.4% clip, to rank No. 3 in the ACC and sixth 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 ranks second for Carolina with an average of 11.6 points per game.
Not only is Nivar showing her leadership on the offensive end, but she is also shining on defense. Her 3.25 steals per game rank third in the ACC, and her 52 total rank seventh nationally.
LET IT FLY
The three-ball has been good to the Tar Heels this season, as Carolina has knocked down 142 triples to date.
Last year, the Tar Heels set a new program record with a total of 269 made threes in 2024-25.
LOCKDOWN FROM DEEP
While the Tar Heels were knocking down triples against N.C. A&T, the Aggies went 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Carolina made 12 more three-pointers than its opponent, the largest disparity since 2016.
NO I IN TEAM
In seven of its 17 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 15 out of 17 games.
ROCKIN' AND ROLLIN'
The offense wasted no time getting going against NC Central, with Carolina scoring 90 points for the sixth time in a season opener under Banghart.
The 48-point margin of victory was also the second-best in a season opener under Banghart.
Carolina is now 20-0 under Banghart when scoring 90 or more points.
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.
NEW LOOK, SAME MISSION
Back for year seven with Courtney Banghart at the helm, the Tar Heels bring back eight returners from last season's Sweet 16 squad.
Despite losing mainstays in Lexi Donarski, Maria Gakdeng, and Alyssa Ustby to graduation, Carolina reloaded with the addition of two transfers and four freshmen.
LOOKING BETTER IN CAROLINA BLUE
Elina Aarnisalo spent one season at UCLA and made a run to the Final Four with the Bruins, before making her way to Chapel Hill. An elite distributor, Aarnisalo averaged 3.4 assists per game to rank 15th among all Division I freshmen last season.
No stranger to the ACC, Nyla Harris chose to spend her final season in Carolina Blue after three seasons at Louisville.
As one of the most efficient shooters in the league the past two years, Harris led the Cardinals from the field as a sophomore and junior. Overall, Harris boasts a 54.2% career field goal percentage.
Regarded as one of the nation's top forwards, Harris also found herself on the Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Top-20 watch list.
THE FIERCE FRESHMEN
Youth is abundant for the Tar Heels, as Carolina brought in a highly rated freshman class with one international star and three ranked in ESPN's top 100 for the Class of 2025.
Following two years on the professional circuit in Russia, Moscow native, Liza Astakhova is ready to take her European game to the United States. Joining the Tar Heels in August, Astakhova looks to provide depth after appearing in 39 games last year with the Russia-PBL.
The fifth McDonald's All-American recruited by Banghart, Nyla Brooks is poised to make some noise in her debut campaign.
Coming out of Bishop Ireton High School, Brooks earned a multitude of honors throughout her prep career. The guard came in as the No. 13 overall prospect in the Class of 2025 by ESPN and picked up honors as the Gatorade Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Most recently, Brooks was touted as one of ESPN's Most Impactful Freshmen and was named the first Tar Heel to the ACC Preseason All-Freshman team since 2021.
After missing her senior season of high school due to injury, Taliyah Henderson is ready to make her return to the court. A multi-sport athlete, Henderson proved to be a star on the hardwood and the track at Salpointe Catholic High School in Vail, Arizona.
The guard also boasts international experience, representing Canada at the FIBA U18 Women's Americup in 2024.
She averaged 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, as Canada went on to earn a silver medal at the event.
Graduating early from high school to spend this past spring with Carolina, Taissa Queiroz is prepped to make her debut in Carolina Blue. Spending her high school years at Cardinal Newman in the Bay Area, Queiroz has generated plenty of buzz through representing her home country of Brazil.
This past offseason, Queiroz played with Brazil in two exhibitions against WNBA squads in the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. She also joined Brazil at the 2025 GloblJam this past summer in Canada, earning a bronze medal.
A TRUE POINT DAWG
The acclaim for Reniya Kelly continues to grow, just like her game as the guard was named Preseason All-ACC by the league's media and coaches.
All-ACC Second Team as a sophomore, Kelly preps for her junior season after lighting it up in her second year of collegiate action. Posting eye-popping numbers in ACC play, Kelly averaged 11.4 points per game to rank second for the Tar Heels.
Proving her prowess from beyond the arc, Kelly knocked down 40 triples at a rate of 41.2%. Her field goal percentage from deep ranks No. 4 in a single season at Carolina.
With 59 career starts under her belt, Kelly also picked up honors as one of the nation's top point guards, earning a spot on the Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Top-20 Watch list and the Naismith Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
LANIE GRANT ON THE RISE
Playing in all 37 games during her freshman campaign last season, Lanie Grant is poised for a sophomore jump after earning ACC All-Freshman Team accolades.
Scoring double-figures in 14 games, Grant posted a career-best 19 points twice. She also led Carolina in scoring in four games, including twice in ACC action.
Grant still remains one of the youngest Tar Heels, skipping her senior season of high school to reclassify and join UNC a year early.
ACC ACCLAIM
In the league's preseason polls, Carolina was selected to finish third by the ACC's coaches and media.
The Tar Heels highest finish in the Banghart era came in 2022, where UNC boasted a 13-5 record to tie for third in the conference.
Last season, Carolina outperformed its expectations from the preseason poll. After being projected to finish 6th, Carolina went 13-5 in league play to tie for 4th.
PRESEASON POLLS
With winning an expectation in Chapel Hill, the sentiment is reiterated nationally with the Tar Heels ranked No. 11 overall in both the AP and the USA Today/Coaches Preseason Polls.
The mark in the AP Poll is the highest start to a season for Carolina since 2009, where UNC began the season ranked No. 4.
In the USA Today/Coaches Poll, it matched Carolina's best start in the poll since the 2012-13 season.
TAR HEELS AND NCAA TOURNAMENT FOES
Prepping for March all throughout November and December, Carolina is set to take on eight NCAA Tournament squads between its exhibition and the regular season during its non-conference slate.
- South Carolina - 2025 Final Four
- UCLA - 2025 Final Four
- Fairfield - 2025 First Round
- UNCG - 2025 First Round
- South Dakota State - 2025 Second Round
- Kansas State - 2025 Sweet 16
- Columbia - 2025 First Round
- Texas - 2025 Final Four
HOME SWEET HOME
The confines of Carmichael Arena have been friendly to the Tar Heels throughout non-conference action, as Carolina has won 34 straight games at home against unranked non-conference teams.
This streak dates back to the 2019 season.
MILESTONE WATCH
- 392 career wins
- Eight away from 400 - would be one of 47 active head coaches with 400 wins.
• Nyla Harris -
- 966 career points.
- 34 away from 1,000.
- 91 career steals.
- 9 away from 1,000.
• Indya Nivar -
- 187 career steals.
- 13 away from 200.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tar Heels return home to Chapel Hill, hosting Miami for a weeknight tilt on Thursday.
Tip against the Hurricanes is set for 7 p.m. ET, streaming on ACC Network Extra.
