No. 24 UNC women's basketball throttles Miami in Carmichael Arena in 85-38 win

The No. 24 UNC women’s basketball team (18-4, 8-4 ACC) took advantage of a fantastic start to beat Miami (12-9, 5-6 ACC), 85-38 in blowout fashion.

What happened?

North Carolina exploded out of the gates, starting the game on a massive 28-2 run. The offense was firing on all cylinders, making 11 of its 19 shots in the quarter led by sophomore forward Anya Poole’s ten points. 

On the other end, the Tar Heels defense was stifling, forcing six Miami turnovers while not giving the Hurricanes any room to breathe for an open shot. Their two points allowed is the lowest in a quarter in North Carolina history.

UNC kept its foot on the gas in the second quarter led by an efficient offense that assisted on ten of its 19 made baskets, as seven Tar Heels scored by the end of the half, three of whom were in double figures. 

As if that wasn’t enough, sophomore guard Deja Kelly knocked down four 3-pointers in a row to contribute to 16 first-half points. Along with their constant defensive pressure on Miami that only allowed five made baskets, they took a commanding 53-13 lead at the half.

UNC proceeded to run away with the game in the second half as the defense stayed relentless until the final buzzer, forcing 18 turnovers and allowing the Hurricanes to make just 23 percent of their shots.

Seven Tar Heels scored at least eight points, led by Kelly’s 18, as North Carolina demolished Miami, 85-38.

Who stood out? 

Kelly got back on track leading the team with 18 points, shooting the ball much better than in recent contests. She also added five rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore guard Kennedy Todd-Williams continues her stretch of great offensive games, scoring a new career high 16 points on 6-11 from the field. This makes it six straight games for Todd-Williams in double figures.

Sophomore guard Alyssa Ustby and Poole each finished in double figures as well with 11 and 10 points respectively while grabbing 17 rebounds as a duo.

When was it decided?

UNC got out and running early with a 9-0 run in the first two minutes, and after Miami’s lone basket of the quarter, North Carolina scored 19 straight, where all five starters got on the scoreboard to take a 26-point lead.

Point guard Carlie Littlefield ran their offense to perfection, and whether it was jumpers from \ Todd-Williams, or the play inside the paint by Poole, the Tar Heels' offense could not be stopped.

But where UNC always impresses is on the defensive end. Not only did the Tar Heels force turnovers, but they contested every Miami shot to force miss after miss. In turn, they got out in transition to score easy baskets off turnovers to pounce on Miami from the jump.

The Tar Heels continued their defensive masterclass in the second quarter, forcing 11 total turnovers in the half, but Kelly’s three point barrage to give UNC a 40-point lead sent Miami home packing before halftime even arrived.

Why does it matter?

North Carolina continues to fight to stay atop of the ACC standings. With this win, they improve to 8-4 in conference play to stay within the top five.

However, the fashion in which UNC won should put the ACC on notice, if not already. They play tenacious team defense that does not allow any easy baskets and forces turnovers by taking charges and getting steals. 

Another important aspect of UNC’s performance is that Kelly showed signs of overcoming her recent offensive slump. She was knocking down shots from all over the court, showing her elite scoring ability that this team has been missing over the past few games.

Combine that with an offense that emphasizes ball movement to get the best shot available, UNC proved once again that they are a team to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor.

When do they play next?

UNC is back in Carmichael Arena on Thursday, Feb. 10 to host Pittsburgh at 6 p.m

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