University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Pittsburgh
Tar Heels Think Pink, Host Pitt In Play4Kay Game Sunday
February 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
No. 22/22 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (22-6, 11-4 ACC)
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (Dartmouth, 2000)
Record at North Carolina: 147-70Â (7th season)
Career Record: 401-173 (19th season)Â
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (8-20, 1-14ACC)
Head Coach: Tory Verdi (Keene State, 1996)
Record at Pitt: 29-63 (3rd season)
Career Record: 232-217 (15th season)
GAME COVERAGE
TV:Â ACC Network
PxP:Â Tom Werme
Analyst:Â Layisha Clarendon
Radio:Â Tar Heel Sports Network, WCHL 97.9/1360
• Matt KrauseÂ
TIPPING OFF
• Coming off its second overtime win of the season for the most in a year since 2018, North Carolina returns home on Sunday to host the reeling Pittsburgh Panthers. The Tar Heels are undefeated against Pitt in the Courtney Banghart era at 6-0.
• A win on Sunday would continue to bolster Carolina's resume as the calendar draws near March, with a chance to notch 12 ACCwins for the second straight conference season. It would be the first time with 12 plus ACC wins for Carolina in back-to-back years, for the first time since the 2004-05 & 2005-06 seasons.
• Defense is in Carolina's DNA as the Tar Heels have held 16 opponents under 40% from the field and lead the league in defensive field goal percentage at 35.1%. In ACC action, the Tar Heels have held nine teams under the threshold.
SERIES NOTES...
In Chapel Hill: UNC leads 5-1
In Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 4-3
At Neutral Sites: Series tied 1-1
Longest UNC Streak: 6 straight (12/30/19 - current)
Longest PITT Streak: 4 straight (1/8/15-1/15/17)
Largest UNC Win: 36 (2/13/14 - in Chapel Hill)
Largest PITT Win: 25 (1/8/15 - in Pittsburgh)
Most UNC Points: 86 (2/13/14 - in Chapel Hill)
Most PITT Points: 91 (2/14/19 - in Pittsburgh)
Last 10 Meetings: UNC leads 8-2
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
In year three under Tory Verdi, Pitt sits at 8-20 overall and 1-14 in ACC play. The Panthers lone conference win came at Boston College at the beginning of January.
Fatima Diakhate carries the Panthers off the glass with 8.8 rebounds per game to sit seventh overall in the ACC. Her nine double-doubles rank fourth overall in the league.
Pacing Pitt on offense, Mikayla Johnson is posting a team-high 13.0 points per game. Theresa Hagans Jr. is scoring the ball and sharing it at a high rate, averaging 12.2 points and 3.9 assists per outing.
SERIES HISTORY VS. PITT
Carolina has rattled off six straight wins against Pitt and owns the overall series advantage at 9-6.
In Chapel Hill, Carolina leads 5-1 all-time and has won five straight against the Panthers in Carmichael Arena.
Under Banghart, Carolina boasts an average margin of victory against Pitt of 12.7 points per game.
LAST TIME OUT
With their backs against the wall and trailing by seven at the half against Virginia Tech, the Tar Heels refused to quit on Thursday in Blacksburg to come back and earn a 66-63 victory in overtime.
Carolina picked up its first win against the Hokies on their home court since 2021 and its first overtime road win since January of 2020.
After struggling to convert in the first half, the Tar Heels scored 21 points in the third quarter to even the score with 10 minutes remaining.Â
Lanie Grant came in clutch down the stretch with eight points in the final quarter as Carolina headed to overtime for the fourth game this year.
Locking down on defense in the final five minutes, Carolina capitalized at the charity stripe to go on and walk out of Cassell Coliseum with the 66-63 Quad 1 victory.
R E J E C T E D
All over the ball against Virginia Tech, Carolina swatted an ACC game-high eight shots against the Hokies.
Four Tar Heels recorded a block, with rookie Nyla Brooks a menace on the defensive end with three rejections.
The eight blocks were the most for Carolina against an ACC foe since January of 2024.
DEFENSE IN OUR DNA
For any team going against the Tar Heels, there's a high chance that most of the shots won't go through the net.
This season, Carolina has held 16 opponents under 40% from the field and is undefeated while doing so.
In each of the last five seasons, the Tar Heels have held 15 or more opponents under to 40% from the field. Overall, Carolina is holding its opponents to 36.7% from the field.
EVERY ACC WIN MATTERS
Each game in ACC action is primed to be a battle, in which the Tar Heels have made sure to take advantage of.
A win on Sunday would give Carolina is in its second-straight season with 12 or more ACC wins, and would be the first time the Tar Heels have done so since the 2004-05 & 2005-06 seasons.
Previously, Carolina has picked up 12 or more ACC wins in 10 total seasons, including twice under Courtney Banghart.
Earning 11 wins marked another milestone for the program, as it reached its fifth straight season with the mark. The last time Carolina had five consecutive seasons with 11 ACC wins was a seven-year run from 2002 to 2008.
FREE BASKETBALL
By knocking off Syracuse and Virginia Tech in overtime, Carolina has now come away with a win in extra time for the second year in-a-row.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have picked up five wins when extra time is needed.
The two wins in extra time match the most for Carolina since the 2017-18 season.
Four overtime games in a year is the most in a season for Carolina since 2000-01.
Luckily, the Tar Heels have not played in a double-overtime contest since December of 2014.
ANYONE'S NIGHT
It's no secret that the Tar Heels boast a balanced attack, with three averaging over 10.0 points per game.
With four players scoring in double-figures at Virginia Tech, Carolina has had three or more double-figure scorers in 25 games this season. The mark ranks second overall in the ACC.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NET
The metrics come into play more and more as we draw closer to March, with Carolina at 19 overall in the NET heading into to Sunday's game against the Panthers.
The win at Virginia Tech gave Carolina its second Quad 1 win of the season, with both coming on the road.
The Tar Heels are 9-6 against teams in Quads 1 and 2.
BOUNCE BACK
This season, Carolina is 5-1 in its next game when coming off a loss.
Overall, the Tar Heels are 39-25 under Courtney Banghart off a loss and 29-12 since the start of the 2021-22 season.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Scoring early and often against SMU, the 52-point victory set a new best as the largest margin of victory in an ACC game in program history.
The 94-point outing is now the most points scored against an ACC foe in the Courtney Banghart era and the most in a conference game since 2015.
Hitting 38 field goals at a 57.6% clip matched Carolina's highest mark of the season and is the best against an ACC opponent in the regular season since shooting 58.3% at Georgia Tech in 2006.
Dating back to the 2000 season, North Carolina has scored 90-plus points in an ACC game 31 times.
NYLA SQUARED
The rookie and the vet combo of Nyla Brooks and Nyla Harris make quite the pair as the two posted a combined 40 points in the win at Wake Forest.
This season, the Tar Heels are 8-1 when the freshman and the senior each score in double-figures.
LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, INDYA IS THERE
Always there when you need some help, Indya Nivar is tallying up the assists this season as the senior posted back-to-back games with a career-high tying seven dimes against Clemson and Wake Forest.
Nivar has already bested her previous season-career best with 68 assists as the senior hit 100 assists against the Demon Deacons. She is currently averaging 4.1 helpers per game in ACC action.
Dishing out five or more dimes in 11 games to date this season, Nivar is the first Tar Heel to do so since Alyssa Ustby during the 2023-24 season.
Nivar is the fifth Tar Heel in the Courtney Banghart era to eclipse 100 or more assists in a season.
Sitting at 111 total assists, Nivar is on track to become the first Tar Heel to dish out 120 or more assists since the 2019-20 season.
20-WINS SECURED
A win in Winston-Salem against Wake Forest gave Carolina its 34th 20-win season and its fifth straight.
A fifth consecutive 20-victory season matches Carolina's longest streak since the 2010-11 through the 2014-15 seasons.
THE JOURNEY TO 400
In her 19th season as a head coach, Courtney Banghart hit the 400-career win mark in the triumph over SMU.
Reaching the threshold, Banghart is now one of 48 active coaches in Division I women's basketball with 400 or more wins.
D-E-F-E-N-S-E, D-E-F-E-N-S-E
Good luck scoring against the Tar Heels, as Carolina has limited four ACC opponents to under 50 points in league action. It ties the most league teams held under 50 points in the Courtney Banghart era, last occurring during the 2021-22 season.
During Carolina's eight-game win streak, the Tar Heels held two opponents under the 50-point mark. Â
As a team, the Tar Heels lead all ACC teams in limiting their opponents to 58.0 points per game and also lead the league in holding teams to 36.5% from the field.
Carolina held both Clemson and Georgia Tech to its ACC low in scoring.
PACK THE PAINT
Finding open shots on the inside has been key in Carolina's success in the recent stretch of conference play in a combined team effort.
Against Boston College and SMU, the Tar Heels posted their ACC-high with 52 points on the inside. Carolina has tallied 50+ points in the paint in five games this year, including three in league play.
Overall, this season, Carolina is averaging 36.5 points per game in the paint overall and 33.5 in ACC action.
DYNAMIC DUO
The pair of Nyla Harris and Lanie Grant has been electrifying throughout ACC play for Carolina, with the duo posting a combined 23.9 points per game in league play.
In the stretch, Harris scored a season-high 21 points against Syracuse and is shooting a hot clip of 56.6% from the floor. She's also averaging a smooth 7.8 rebounds per game.
Grant has been shooting lights out from beyond the arc, draining 31 threes at a clip of 42.5%. Against Syracuse, the sophomore drained a career-high five triples.
THRIVING IN THE THIRD
Coming out of the half, the Tar Heels love to make an impact in the third quarter. Carolina is averaging a quarter-best 20.3 points per game in the frame.
The Tar Heels have earned five come from behind wins this season when trailing at the half and can be attributed to its success in the third quarter.
This season, Carolina is 20-1 overall when leading through three.
STUFF THE STAT SHEET
As Carolina's leading distributor, Indya Nivar has racked up five or more assists in 11 games. The senior has matched her career-best twice with seven assists against Kansas State, Clemson and at Wake Forest.
This season, Nivar has tallied six games with at least five points, five rebounds, and five assists. Throughout her career, she's totaled eight games with the mark.
GOING STREAKING
Rattling off eight consecutive wins in conference play, the Tar Heels hit their stride to match the longest streak against ACC foes since 2023.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have ridden three streaks in conference play with five or more wins, the longest being eight straight against conference opponents during the 2022-23 season.
Carolina has posted seven straight ACC wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
SHOOT YOUR SHOT
The three-ball has clearly been flying at a high rate for the Tar Heels, as Carolina has drained 109 total triples in ACC action to date.
Grant paces the Tar Heels against all foes foes with 51 total triples this season. In ACC action, the sophomore is shooting the three-ball at a blistering 42.5% clip.
Last season, Carolina set a new best under Banghart with 120 made threes in ACC play.Â
MAKE 'EM MISS
Known for an aggressive defensive presence, the Tar Heels lead all ACC teams in conference play by holding their opponents to 35.1% from the field.
Against ACC foes, the Tar Heels have held nine teams below 40% from the field. Carolina has held eight of its last 10 opponents below the threshold.Â
Prior to the win at Wake Forest, Carolina had held six straight opponents to under 40% from the field
In forcing four ACC teams under 30% shooting, Carolina has accomplished the feat for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
On the defensive end, Carolina has limited four teams to under 50 points. Through 13 conference games, the Tar Heels are holding teams to 59.33 points per game to rank second in the league.
1K CLUB
Scoring six points against Georgia Tech, Nyla Harris eclipsed the 1,000career point threshold in Atlanta.
The senior is averaging 8.3 points per game throughout her career, and 11.3 in her lone season as a Tar Heel. In ACC action, Harris ranks second in the conference from the floor at 56.6%.
Against Syracuse, Harris came alive in the paint to score a career-high 21 points. Her presence was felt on the defensive side, with a season-high 11 rebounds.
This season, Harris boasts four double-doubles with three coming in ACC action.
She's scored 10 plus points in 12 out of 15 conference games.
DOMINATE THE GLASS
Not only did the Tar Heels grab a season-high 55 rebounds at Georgia Tech, but they also bullied the Yellow Jackets off the glass with a rebounding margin of +21.
Carolina's largest rebounding margin in an ACC game this season came against SMU at +30.
Ciera Toomey was dominant in Atlanta against Georgia Tech, collecting a career-high 15 rebounds. Her rebounds also marked the most in a single game by a Tar Heel this year.
Under Banghart, Carolina has tallied 50-plus rebounds against ACC foes in 13 total games.
10 out of 11 of Carolina's ACC wins have come when outrebounding its opponent. Overall, Carolina is 20-2 this season when outrebounding its opponents.
GRIT OVER QUIT
Points came at a premium in Carolina's victory at Georgia Tech, with the Tar Heels grinding away to earn the 54-46 victory. The same proved to be a factor in the 53-44 win over Clemson.
Under Banghart, the Tar Heels have won eight games when scoring under 55 points.
SECOND CHANCE - TAKEN
Taking advantage, Carolina tallied a season-high 21 second-chance points in the victory at Wake Forest.
The Tar Heels tallied 15+ second-chance points in the stretch against Miami, Florida State, and Georgia Tech for the longest stretch since December of 2023.
This season, Carolina is averaging 12.39 second-chance points per outing.
SHOOTERS SHOOT
Feeling it from three as a team, the Tar Heels knocked down 13 three-pointers at Florida State for their most in an ACC game this season.
Lanie Grant was hot from beyond the arc, matching her then 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 game in stats dating back to 2002-03. The Tar Heels have drained 10-plus threes in four ACC games this year.
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 was the first Tar Heel to eclipse the 20-point threshold in a game this season.Â
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 averaging 9.4 points per game.
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. 23 overall nationally with a total of 74 steals and No. 42 with 2.64 steals per game. She's snagged three or more steals in 13 total games this season.
The senior is the first Tar Heel to snag 70 steals in a season since 2012-13.
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.
BATTLING ON THE BOARDSÂ
The rebounding battle is key to Carolina's success this season, as the Tar Heels are 20-2 when winning the boards.
In Carolina's 11 ACC wins, the Tar Heels have outrebounded their opponents by an average of +10.2 boards per game.
Overall, Carolina owns a rebounding margin of +7.5 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 12 out of 15 conference games.
Currently, Harris is shooting 56.6% from the floor en route to 13.1 points per outing in ACC games.
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 three 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.
Lanie Grant has paced the Tar Heels as the leading scorer in 11 games.
SNEAK ATTACK
It's no secret that the Tar Heels love to defend, as UNC currently ranks No. 5 among ACC teams with an average of 9.4 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.
PASS THE BALL
Dishing out the ball at a high rate, 24 assists at Boston College and against SMU marked a new season-high for UNC. Carolina has dished out 20 or more assists in eight 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.
Against SMU, 10 Tar Heels dropped a helper with Elina Aarnisalo setting her season-high with five.
Overall, Carolina has dished out 15+ assists in 18 games this year. Indya Nivar currently paces Carolina with 3.96 dimes per game and has dished out five or more helpers in 11 games
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 against the Seahawks, the most in a game this season.
45 bench points against SMU set a Banghart era best against an ACC team.
Averaging 25.8 points per game from its reserves, Carolina ranks No. 3 in the ACC and No. 25 nationally in bench points per game.
19 out of 22 wins this season have come when the Tar Heel bench outscores their opponent.
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 11 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 second in the ACC from beyond the arc at a 35.1% clip and also sits third with 8.1 triples per game.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Elina Aarnisalo -Â
  - 199 career assists.
  - 1 away from 200.
• Lanie Grant -Â
  - 95 career made threes.
  - 5 away from 100.
• Reniya Kelly -Â
  - 146 career assists.
  - 4 away from 150.
WHAT'S NEXT
One week of the regular season remains, as the Tar Heels head on the road for the final time this year with a trip to Charlottesville to face Virginia on Thursday.
Carolina takes on the Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.
