Notre Dame Downs WBB In South Bend, 73-50

Sunday, January 11

South Bend, Ind.

1 PM

North Carolina

13-5,2-3ACC

Notre Dame

12-4,4-2ACC

North Carolina

Notre Dame

January 11, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, IND. – In its second Atlantic Coast Conference road contest of the season, No. 22 North Carolina women's basketball could not keep pace with Notre Dame's offense, falling 73-50 from Purcell Pavilion on Sunday afternoon.

North Carolina (13-5, 2-3 ACC) could not slow down Notre Dame (12-4, 4-2 ACC) and All-America guard Hannah Hildalgo, as the Tar Heel offense struggled to find a rhythm.

Nyla Harris led Carolina with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Lanie Grant drained three triples to add nine points.

On defense, Indya Nivar rejected a career-high three shots and added three steals.

Trading defensive punches back-and-forth in the opening minutes, Reniya Kelly earned Carolina's first bucket of the day midway through the first. Holding the Fighting Irish without a field goal for a stretch, Carolina's offense still worked to find its footing. With three straight baskets from Notre Dame, the Tar Heels found themselves trailing 15-9 through one.

A Grant three provided the Tar Heels with a boost, yet Notre Dame remained responsive at the opposite end of the court. Grant shortly added another deep triple as Carolina closed in on the Irish advantage. Coming within two midway through the second, the Tar Heels found success attacking through the paint. As the threes began to fall for Notre Dame, Carolina worked to play catch-up, nearing the break with Harris adding eight in the frame. Heading into the locker room, Notre Dame remained ahead by six at 33-27.

Holding the Irish to a multi-minute scoring drought early in the third, Carolina also found itself stagnant on the offensive end. Breaking through, an Elina Aarnisalo jumper attempted to spur the Tar Heels, yet Notre Dame fired back with a 12-0 run. A 22-point quarter from the Irish found Carolina trailing 55-32 heading into the fourth.

A Kelly triple worked to spark offense, yet Notre Dame continued to dictate tempo and pace. Carolina slowed the Irish down and limited them to a multi-minute stretch without a field goal, yet couldn't cash in points at the opposite end. Notre Dame's offensive firepower proved to be too much, with Carolina falling 73-50.

Returning to Chapel Hill, Carolina is set to host Miami from Carmichael Arena on Thursday night. Tip against the Hurricanes is slated for 7 p.m. ET, streaming on ACC Network Extra.