University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
26-6,14-4ACC
Virginia Tech
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Career-High Night From Grant Propels WBB To ACC Semifinals
March 6, 2026 | Women's Basketball
DULUTH, Ga. – A second-quarter scoring surge lifted No. 16 North Carolina women's basketball to an 85-68 victory in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals over Virginia Tech in Duluth, Ga., on Friday night, advancing the team to its consecutive semifinal game appearance and its 30th overall.
North Carolina (26-6,15-4 ACC) and its high scoring second and third quarter proved to be the difference over Virginia Tech (23-9, 12-7 ACC). Carolina continued to be a force from behind the arc, setting a program record with 270 made three-pointers in a single season with seven total on the night.
The 85 points from the Tar Heels set a Courtney Banghart era best in an ACC Tournament game and the most in an ACC Tournament game for Carolina since 2008. The 17-point victory also set the largest margin of victory in seven seasons under Banghart.
Lanie Grant was key for the Tar Heels posting a career-high 21 points, hitting four of her seven shots from behind the arc. Overall, Grant shot the ball at an efficient 66% clip and dished out three assists to round off her standout performance.
Nyla Harris, Elina Aarnisalo, and Nyla Brooks all joined Grant in double-figures. Harris recorded her fifth double-double of the season tallying 19 points and ten boards. Harris was productive in the paint with four of the eight team offensive rebounds. Aarnisalo also made a difference on the floor passing out a season-high six assists and added a blistering 18 points.
The difference in the game was the three-point shooting as North Carolina, who leads the ACC in made triples, drained seven, while Virginia Tech was held to an 11.1% clip from behind the arc. North Carolina shot the ball well across the floor, shooting 51.6%, a new record under Courtney Banghard in the ACC Tournament.
At the opening tip, Virginia Tech was aggressive at the glass grabbing multiple offensive rebounds to limit Tar Heel possessions. Grant fueled the North Carolina offensive early, draining a jumper and a shot from behind the arc in the opening minutes. From there, the Hokies tightened defensively, forcing a four-minute scoring drought for the Tar Heels and putting together an 8-0 run. Grant hit another basket from deep to keep Carolina within recap as at the end of the first quarter, Virginia Tech held a narrow 16-11 advantage.
Into the second quarter, Brooks was key in energizing North Carolina's offense, hitting three free throws and adding a creative bucket in the paint. At the other end of the floor, Laila Hull created disruption with a momentum-changing block. The Tar Heels regained the lead when Hull found Harris through the paint, three minutes into the second frame.
Virginia Tech did not let Carolina get easy baskets, creating physical contact and tight defense yet North Carolina continued to find open space and get inventive on the floor to find the open Tar Heel. Aarnisalo continued on her hot streak with two 3-pointers to extend the North Carolina lead. Defensively, the Tar Heels held the Hokies to just a 20% clip, with no field goals in the final five minutes of the first half. Carolina scored 29 points in the second quarter, a new record in the ACC Tournament under Banghart as North Carolina led 40-27 at halftime after a 15-5 run.
Following halftime, Nivar wasted no time converting on the three-point play. Down low, the chemistry between Nivar and Ciera Toomey was working, drawing defenders to create the open shot. Virginia Tech capitalized on early turnovers to go on a 7-0 run and proved it wasn't ready to go away yet.
Grant continued to drain three-point shots, ending the short scoring drought for the Tar Heels to hit her career-high midway through the quarter with 21 points. North Carolina continued to feed Harris inside the paint to pound on the points and extend its advantage. At the end of the third frame, North Carolina continued to hold on to the lead, 64-51.
Carolina showed patience and poise running time off the clock en route to secure a Tar Heel victory with 21 points in the final frame. At the other end, North Carolina forced a Hokie four minute scoring drought to seal off the game. North Carolina secured a 85-68 victory, the largest win margin in ACC Tournament play since 2015.
With the victory, North Carolina advances to face Louisville in the semifinal round of the ACC Tournament on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. inside Gas South Arena on ESPN2.
