University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Women's Basketball Remains Away, Visits Georgia Tech For Thursday Night Tilt
January 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
RV/No. 21 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (15-5, 4-3 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 140-69 (7th season)
Career Record: 394-172 (19th season)
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (8-11, 3-4 ACC)
Head Coach: Karen Blair (SMU, 1999)
Record at Georgia Tech: 8-11 (1st season)
Career Record: 11-16 (2nd season)
GAME COVERAGE
TV: ACC Network
PxP: Mark Neely
Analyst: Angel Gray
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network, WCHL 97.9/1360
• Matt Krause
TIPPING OFF• Carolina travels to Atlanta for the second time this season, in search of its second straight win over the Yellow Jackets on their home court. In January of 2024, the Tar Heels came away with a 73-68 win in McCamish Pavilion.
• Coming away with its largest win over Florida State since 2002 at 82-55, the Tar Heels picked up their second ACC road victory of the season on Sunday.
• Lighting it up from deep, Carolina drained its ACC game-high 13 three pointers with Lanie Grant pacing the way as she matched her career-high with four triples.
• On the defensive end, the Tar Heels held the Seminoles to a mere 28.6% from the field. Carolina has now held two ACC foes under 30% for the first time since the 2022-23 season.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Georgia Tech sits at 8-11 overall and 3-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play in year one at the helm of head coach Karen Blair.
The Yellow Jackets have found success at home this season, sitting at 7-3 overall and 2-1 in ACC action.
One of the strongest teams on the glass, Georgia Tech ranks second in the league with an average of 30.1 defensive rebounds per game and 12th nationally.
Talyah Walker paces the Yellow Jackets with an average of 16.8 points per game, while Brianna Turnage leads off the boards with 9.1 rebounds per outing.
SERIES HISTORY VS. GEORGIA TECH
Despite Georgia Tech earning the win last season in Chapel Hill, Carolina remains ahead in the series, 62-22 overall, and has claimed seven of the last 10 meetings.
In Atlanta, Carolina leads 24-12 as the Tar Heels earned a 73-68 victory in their last trip to McCamish Pavilion in January of 2024.
Under Banghart, Carolina is 4-2 against Georgia Tech.
LAST TIME OUT
From the jump, Carolina came out rearing to go at Florida State in a wire-to-wire 82-55 win in Tallahassee on Sunday. The 27-point win was the largest against the Seminoles since 2002.
Reniya Kelly continues to find her groove, scoring in double-figures for the second straight game as she tallied 11 points.
Matching her career-best with four made threes, Lanie Grant led all scorers with 14 points, while Nyla Harris and Ciera Toomey also wrapped their days in double-figure scoring. Four double-figure scorers tied the most in an ACC game for the Tar Heels this year.
Limiting the Seminoles to a mere 28.6% from the Floor, Carolina led by as many as 31 and never trailed in its second ACC road win of the season.
SECOND CHANCE - TAKEN
Taking advantage, Carolina tallied a season-high 20 second chance points in the victory at Florida State.
It also marked the most in a game since facing off against Florida State last season in the 2025 ACC Tournament.
SHOOTERS SHOOT
Feeling it from three as a team, the Tar Heels knocked down an 13 three-pointers for their most in an ACC game this season.
Lanie Grant was hot from beyond the arc, matching her career-best with four made triples.
Overall, seven Tar Heels knocked down a shot from deep in the most triples drained against an ACC foe since at Pitt last season.
The 36 attempts from deep also marked the most attempts in an ACC games in stats available dating back to 2002-03.
MAKE YOU MISS
In holding Florida State to a mere 28.6% from the field, the Tar Heels have now held two ACC opponents this season to under 30% from the field. Carolina limited Boston College to 21.3% from the field in its victory in Chestnut Hill.
It's the first time since the 2022-23 season that Carolina has held two ACC opponents under the 30% threshold.
This season, Carolina has held six opponents to under 30% from the field in a game. In conference play, Carolina ranks No. 1 among ACC teams in holding its foes to 36.7% shooting.
When holding opponents under 40% from the field this season, Carolina is undefeated at 14-0.
HERE COMES RK
With the third 20-point outing of her career, Reniya Kelly was unstoppable against Miami. The junior came out strong with nine points in the first quarter en route to a career-high 24 points.
Kelly is the first Tar Heel to eclipse the 20-point threshold in a game this season.
Hot from all over the floor, Kelly shot 9-of-14 from the field and knocked down four of five triples.
In ACC action, Kelly is currently one of three Tar Heels averaging double-figures in scoring with 10.3 points per game.
KEEPING IT 100
Despite its past struggles from the charity stripe this season, Carolina locked in against Miami and Florida State to knock down all 10 and then nine of its free-throw attempts.
Carolina followed up its performance against the Hurricanes, shooting 9-of-9 from the charity stripe in Tallahassee. The Tar Heels have now shot perfectly from the line in five games under Banghart.
Both games set a new mark as the most attempted without a miss in a game during the Banghart era, marking the only such occurrence dating back to the 2002-03 season. Carolina has never shot 100% from the line in two straight games in a season, going back to 2002-03.
ARTISTS IN THE PAINT
The tandem of Nyla Harris and Ciera Toomey has proven to be dangerous on the inside, assisting the Tar Heels to an average of 38.3 points per game in the paint.
As a team, the Tar Heels have posted 50+ point games in the paint four times this season.
BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
The rebounding battle is key to Carolina's success this season, as the Tar Heels are 14-1 when winning the boards.
In Carolina's four ACC wins, the Tar Heels have outrebounded their opponents by an average of +8.8 boards per game.
Overall, Carolina owns a rebounding margin of +6.2 this season.
CLICKING IN CONFERENCE
Scoring in double figures in the first four conference games, Nyla Harris rattled off a career-long streak in league action.
Harris was the first Tar Heel to start off league action riding a five-game double-digit scoring streak since Alyssa Ustby did so at the start of 2022-23 ACC play.
The senior forward has posted double-figures in five out of six conference games.
Harris is one of the most efficient shooters in the ACC in league play, ranking third overall at a clip of 60.0%.
WELCOMING NOELLE TO THE FOLD
After graduating early from Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, Ariz., Noelle Bofia has joined the Tar Heels for the Spring of 2026.
A four-star recruit and rated as the No. 52 overall prospect in the Class of 2026 by ESPN, Bofia is set to redshirt and practice with the Tar Heels this semester.
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, nine different Tar Heels have led in scoring in a game, with nine 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 10.2 steals per game.
Against Boston College, California, and Stanford, Carolina 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.
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 six 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 14 games this year. Indya Nivar currently paces Carolina with 3.7 dimes per game and has dished out five or more helpers in seven games.
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 28.7 points per game from its reserves, Carolina ranks No. 2 in the ACC and No. 17 nationally in bench points per game.
14 out of 15 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 18.85 per game from its opponents to rank fourth overall in the ACC.
Last year, Carolina forced 13 teams to turnover the ball 20 or more times.
Currently, Carolina is averaging 20.4 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.
BOUNCE BACK
This season, Carolina is 4-1 in its next game when coming off a loss.
Overall, the Tar Heels are 38-25 under Courtney Banghart off a loss and 28-12 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.
10 out of 15 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 16 out of 20 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. 12 overall nationally with a total of 61 steals and No. 20 with 3.05 steals per game. She's snagged three or more steals in 11 total games this season.
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 earned three quad-two wins this season, defeating No. 45 Miami, No. 49 Fairfield and No. 50 South Dakota State.
The Tar Heels sit at No. 21 in the NET prior to Thursday's game in Atlanta.
CAN'T STOP HER
In Cancun, Indya 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 knocked down 10-plus triples in nine games. Carolina has already bested last season's mark of eight games with double-figure triples.
One of the best three-point shooting teams nationally, Carolina ranks third in the ACC from beyond the arc at a 34.7% clip and ranks third with 8.3 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 28.7 points per game from their reserves. Carolina's bench scoring ranks No. 17 nationally and second overall in the ACC.
Coming off the bench, Nyla Brooks leads the reserves with 8.7 points per game.
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 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.
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 37 made triples and leads the ACC among freshmen with an average of 1.85 per game, and is 12th overall in the league.
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 leads Carolina with an average of 11.0 points per game.
Not only is Nivar showing her leadership on the offensive end, but she is also shining on defense. Her 3.05 steals per game rank second in the ACC, and her 61 total rank 12th nationally.
LET IT FLY
The three-ball has been good to the Tar Heels this season, as Carolina has knocked down 166 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.
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 that Kelly set in 2020.
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.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Courtney Banghart -
- 394 career wins
- Six away from 400 - would be one of 48 active head coaches with 400 wins.
• Nyla Harris -
- 997 career points.
- Three away from 1,000.
- 97 career steals.
- Three away from 100.
• Indya Nivar -
- 192 career steals.
- Eight away from 200.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Tar Heels head home-sweet-home on Sunday, hosting Syracuse for Alumni Day and a Celebration for National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Sunday.
Carolina goes head-to-head with the Orange at 2 p.m. ET, airing on The CW.
