The No. 17 North Carolina women’s basketball team (13-2, 1-1 ACC) earned its first conference victory of the season, defeating the Miami Hurricanes (11-2, 1-1 ACC), 69-60, Sunday evening in Coral Gables.
The Tar Heels earned their third straight win and remain undefeated in true road games, while Miami’s win streak ended at four games. The big names flourished for UNC, with senior center Maria Gakdeng and graduate guard Alyssa Ustby recording double-doubles. Miami guards Jasmyne Roberts and Haley Cavinder recorded 19 points each.
Gakdeng made her interior presence known early, laying in three of the Tar Heels’ first four buckets. This opened the floor for UNC, creating open 3-pointers for junior guard Indya Nivar and Ustby that prompted a 12-7 North Carolina lead at the first media timeout.
First-year guard Lanie Grant made an instant impact after subbing in, intercepting a pass and finishing the transition layup after a smooth Euro-step. Gakdeng recorded her ninth points of the quarter after a putback layup, with UNC closing out the first quarter up 21-14.
Grant continued to get the job done on both ends, drawing a charge early in the second quarter and knocking down a 3-pointer from the wing the very next possession. Utsby got involved midway through the quarter, recording back-to-back layups and finding Gakdeng rim-running for the transition assist.
The North Carolina lead was as high as 17, but the Hurricanes strung together a few baskets off miscues from the Tar Heels, ending the half on a 7-0 run. Miami’s Cavinder shined with 12 points and five rebounds in the first half, but with her team losing the first half’s turnover battle 9-3, they trailed 39-29 heading into the locker room.
Roberts hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to seven early in the third quarter, but sophomore guard Reniya Kelly promptly responded with a triple of her own. Turnovers continued to be critical, with UNC reigning momentum after a Nivar steal led to an Ustby putback layup.
The Miami crowd got ignited as Cavinder hit her twin sister, Hanna, with a behind-the-back pass for a fast break layup, but the Tar Heels went back to what worked: Maria Gakdeng. The center tacked on six more points and two offensive rebounds in the third quarter, with her post dominance propelling North Carolina to a 15-point lead as they entered the final quarter.
The foot stayed on the gas pedal for North Carolina, with Gakdeng and graduate guard Lexi Donarski recording quick buckets to start the quarter.
