No. 19 UNC women's basketball uses big third quarter to defeat Boston College

Alyssa Ustby was running. 

After UNC took a three-point lead midway through the third quarter, Ustby hustled up the court in transition. She sped past two Boston College defenders on her way to the basket. First-year guard Lanie Grant found the fifth-year forward for an and-1 opportunity. 

On the next possession, Grant rebounded a missed BC shot. Again, it was Ustby, 10 seconds later, ahead of the pack for another two points. 

Then it was junior guard Indya Nivar with the board. There was Ustby for her third fast break layup in 33 seconds. 

In No. 19 North Carolina women’s basketball’s 80-67 victory over Boston College in Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon, it was plays like these in the third quarter that increased the pace to a speed too fast for the Golden Eagles. The Tar Heels outscored Boston College, 43-27, in the second half, thanks to continued defensive prowess and transition buckets.

UNC found itself down 40-37 going into the half. This was only the fourth time this season the Tar Heels faced a halftime deficit, and those three other games are North Carolina’s only three losses of the season. 

The Tar Heels came out flat in the first half, according to head coach Courtney Banghart. They had 10 turnovers. They had about half as many rebounds as the Eagles. They made lackadaisical passes and gave Boston College lanes to the basket. 

Something had to change before UNC allowed the then 10-7 Eagles to entirely take over. And North Carolina answered the call from Banghart. 

“At halftime I really challenged them to remember what they’re about and how they want to perform in the second half,” Banghart said. 

The Tar Heels remembered. Starting with sophomore guard Reniya Kelly’s two-point jumper at the tail end of the first half, the pace changed. UNC amassed a 18-4 run, including Ustby’s six-point fast break streak.

And by the end of the third quarter, North Carolina nearly doubled Boston College in scoring, 23-12. 

Variables like defense and rebounding that hurt North Carolina in the first half became its firepower in the third frame. The Tar Heels forced nine Eagles turnovers and converted those into 10 points off turnovers.

UNC held Boston College to just under 31 percent from the field — after shooting 60 percent in the second quarter — and 1-4 from three-point range. It was also the first frame UNC out-rebounded the Eagles.

“That’s just team defense,” Ustby said, who recorded a team-high 17 points along with four rebounds, four assists and two blocks. “Like getting a defensive board and looking up the court and passing ahead.”

Ustby, Kelly and senior center Maria Gakdeng stayed on the hardwood for all 10 minutes of the quarter. The trio combined for 16 points in the frame and didn't commit a turnover.

Having the advantage of controlling the glass and shutting down the Eagles created space and open shots for the Tar Heels, who shot nearly 59 percent from the field in the third frame. 

“I think we’re really hard to guard in transition, especially because Maria, I and the rest of our post can run the floor,” Ustby said. “But we also have a lot of great passers and girls that can space the floor by just fading out to the three-point line. So they have to pick their poison.”

Kelly and Banghart praised Ustby for running to the rim in search of an easy layup, along with other guards like Nivar and graduate guard Lexi Donarski. 

It may not always look like six points in half a minute from a single player, but North Carolina knows when it’s at its best: on the fast break.

“We all want to push the ball,” Kelly said. “And it’s just the best opportunity to push when we get an offensive rebound or a defensive rebound. We can go.”

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