New faces lead No. 15 UNC women's basketball in win over Charleston Southern

There were a few jitters.

After 70 days of practice, six different Tar Heels made their North Carolina women's basketball debut in UNC's season opener at Carmichael Arena. 

The group — a mixed bag of transfers, first-years and redshirts — combined for a total of 31 points, exceeding the difference in No. 15 North Carolina's 83-53 victory against Charleston Southern on Monday. 11 players, including the newcomers, tallied 12 or more minutes of playing time, offering added depth to a team that was riddled with injury at the end of last season. 

“We had a lot of people that this was their first game in Carmichael,” graduate guard Lexi Donarski said. “So, to play a game with that much energy in the gym was so much fun.”

The first to debut was center Blanca Thomas. The first-year was subbed in midway through the opening quarter and immediately tallied a block and offensive rebound. She was then surrounded by a cast of Tar Heels playing their first moments for UNC.

Along with Thomas' eight points, junior transfer Trayanna Crisp led the newcomers in scoring. She began with a first-quarter 3-pointer and by the end of the third period had recorded 11 points, a high for UNC at the time. 

Crisp's scoring was also important early because veterans graduate forward Alyssa Ustby and Donarski took a while to heat up. Eventually, the Ustby-Donarski duo finished with a combined 32 points, but Crisp's scoring was an early crutch to separate UNC from the Buccaneers.

“Tonight we needed the stat line that she was able to provide [for us],” head coach Courtney Banghart said. “She's one of those players on our team that's capable of that, so [we're] really happy for her.”

The added support from Crisp and others also allows the Tar Heels to get the most out of their star players. Both Ustby and Donarski played under the 30-minute mark, a threshold Banghart hopes to keep them below most of the season. Last season, Donarski averaged 35.9 minutes per game, while Ustby averaged 33.9. 

Not only will it help them stay fresh, but fewer minutes for the pair will provide the opportunity for younger players to develop. 

“I thought our guards [including] Grace Townsend, first time in a Carolina uniform, she did amazing. Jordan Zubich came in off the bench, and did great as well bringing up the ball,” Ustby said. “We have a lot to look forward to.”

The distribution of playing time is also a testament to the team’s true depth this season. Despite the final score being a blowout, it wasn't the reason why so many Tar Heels played. In fact, 11 Tar Heels cycled through the rotation in the second quarter while the game was still competitive.

Banghart talked about her staff's trust in many different players and how there will be a constant evaluation through film to decide who deserves playing time. North Carolina practices with several different combinations of scrimmage teams, which allows for greater chemistry during games.

“It's been a really good mix. We've had new people this year that have made such a big impact, both on offense and defense, and it's been a lot of fun,” Ustby said. “I feel like every practice, every week, we're continuing to play together more and play better together.”

UNC will continue to foster experience for the younger portion of its roster, with a schedule designed to do just that. Banghart said how important early-season games are for gaining experience, and scheduling was systematically designed for it. By the time ACC games roll around, hopes are that North Carolina's second unit will help ease the load from that of last season. 

“These freshmen and sophomores and these redshirt guys, they're ready,” Banghart said. “Again, working the jitters out, but they're on the up-and-up for sure.”

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