No. 16 UNC women's basketball takes down Villanova, 53-36, in the semifinal of Battle 4 Atlantis

The No. 16 UNC women’s basketball team (5-1) defeated Villanova (4-2), 53-36, on Sunday afternoon in the semifinal of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at Imperial Arena in the Bahamas. 

Following an 11-point win against Ball State in the first round, North Carolina was looking to clinch its spot in the championship of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. UNC delivered, and in a big way. 

The Tar Heels forced the Wildcats into tough shots all night, holding Villanova to 24 percent shooting. But it was the standout play from both graduate starters: forward Alyssa Ustby and guard Lexi Donarski. Ustby recorded her second double-double of the season and Donarski scored 14 points, leading the way for the Tar Heels. 

“We’re real grateful for the performance of our guys today. Tough team to scout, really fluid action. Our guys, led by these two, were totally locked into the defensive scout,” head coach Courtney Banghart said. “These guys were really locked in.” 

UNC got on the board first, courtesy of a jumper from the elbow by sophomore guard Reniya Kelly. The UNC offense didn’t look back. 

Halfway through the first quarter, North Carolina got out to an early 10-4 lead with corner 3-pointers from Ustby and Donarski. 

Donarski continued her hot start when she converted on an elbow jumper, increasing the Tar Heel lead to 12-4. 

With only seconds remaining in the first quarter and surrounded by two defenders, junior guard Trayanna Crisp heaved a cross-court pass to redshirt first-year guard Laila Hull, who buried the 3-pointer, giving North Carolina a 17-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Ustby was dominant in the opening period, finishing the quarter with 7 points and 8 rebounds. 

The high-level play from both of North Carolina’s veterans continued with a fast break layup by Donarski and a dazzling up-and-under from Ustby, extending the lead to 21-7. 

After a 5-0 Villanova run Ustby found herself doubled in the post, but she was able to find a cutting Indya Nivar, who converted on the open layup. 25-14 Tar Heels. 

With a little more than two minutes remaining in the first half, Ustby shot a fading floater that bounced around the rim before dropping in. The basket gave Ustby a first half double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

 North Carolina entered halftime with a 12-point lead. 

UNC picked up right where they left off with Donarski hitting a transition 3-pointer on the pass from Nivar. Less than five minutes into the third quarter, the Tar Heels grew their lead to 15. A contested leaning hook shot by Donarski gave UNC a 37-20 lead at the 3:40 mark of the third quarter. 

“I feel like our team just keeps getting better offensively every single night. The spacing, the ball movement, getting into the actions, getting the shots that we want as a team,” Donarski said. “So I just think that we need to continue to take steps forward offensively as a team, and tonight was another step forward in that area.”

After three quarters, North Carolina’s lead ballooned to 21 points. 

Crisp got the scoring started in the fourth quarter on a driving layup, making the game 46-25. 

Villanova made three of their five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough as the Tar Heels prevailed 53-36.

The Tar Heels will face Indiana in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament championship at 12 p.m. on Monday. 

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