University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
24-6,13-4ACC
Virginia
19-9,11-6ACC
Program Record 16 Threes Powers Carolina Past Virginia For Road Win
February 26, 2026 | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTESVILLE, VA. – In its final road test of the season, No. 21 North Carolina Women's Basketball fired off 16 threes as a team to shatter the program record en route to an 82-70 win over Virginia from John Paul Jones Arena on Thursday night. The Tar Heels have now earned 13 ACC wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
North Carolina (24-6, 13-4 ACC) shot 58% from the floor to defeat Virginia (19-9, 11-6 ACC) for the first time in three seasons. Carolina also picked up its first win in Charlottesville since 2023 as five Tar Heels scored 10 or more points.
Six Tar Heels combined for 16 made threes to break the single-game program record of 14 triples, which had been tied multiple times in the Banghart era. Shooting 16-of-24 from beyond the arc, tied the single-game record under Banghart by shooting a 66.7% clip from deep.
In a career-high night for Elina Aarnisalo, the sophomore posted 20 points off of eight made field goals, including four threes. She also wrapped her night with a team-high seven made rebounds while also adding four assists.
Dishing out 21 assists as a team, Indya Nivar matched her career-high four the fourth time this season with seven dimes. Ciera Toomey set her career-high with five assists, while also adding 10 points.
In another homecoming game for the Virginia native, Lanie Grant fired off three triples en route to 15 points, while Nyla Brooks added 11 points for her second straight game in double figures. Nyla Harris pounded the ball in the paint for 10 points, while Carolina scored 20 total on the inside.
Relying on the inside, Harris got the Tar Heels going with their first bucket of the night by going to work in the paint. The opening bucket sparked the 7-0 run, followed by a Grant triple and Aarnisalo earning a layup on the fast break. After adding another Harris bucket through the lane, UVA broke the 9-0 run with a triple to find its way on the board. Entering a multi-minute scoring drought, the Heels fought to hold off the Hoos towards the end of the first. Feeling it from deep, both Henderson and Toomey added a three in the waning moments of the first quarter to take a 15-8 advantage.
The three-ball continued to fly, as Brooks drained her first of the night to open the second frame. Less than three minutes later, Brooks added back-to-back triples to create a 13-point advantage and force Virginia to call a timeout. Aarnisalo joined in on the party, knocking down back-to-back threes of her own as Carolina poured on the points against the Hoos. Despite being held scoreless for the final two minutes of the half, Carolina maintained its 17-point lead at 40-23 at the break.
Toomey added her second three-pointer of the night in the early minutes of the third to extend the Carolina lead to 20. Showing fight, the Cavaliers rattled off a 6-0 run to cut into the Tar Heel advantage. Coming out of a timeout, Aarnisalo swished another triple to regain momentum. There was truly no stopping the Tar Heels from deep, as Grant added two triples en route to eight points in the third. Another quick UVA run towards the end of the quarter cut the Carolina hold to 60-47 with 10 minutes to play.
Despite once again tying the program single-game record in threes with two straight triples from Laila Hull, the Hoos refused to go away quietly and cut the Tar Heel lead to nine with six minutes remaining. There was no stopping Carolina from beyond the arc, as Aarnisalo made the 15th three of the night to set the single-game program record. Ahead by 10 with over a minute remaining, Carolina capped off the victory at the charity stripe to defeat Virginia, 82-70.
The Tar Heels head home for their final game of the regular season, hosting Duke for the second rivalry matchup in Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon. Tip from Carmichael Arena against the Blue Devils is slated for noon ET on ESPN.
