UNC women's basketball defeats Louisville, 79-75, in first-ever road win against the Cardinals

The No. 9 UNC women’s basketball team (25-4, 13-3 ACC) defeated Louisville (19-8, 12-4 ACC), 79-75, Sunday afternoon at the KFC Yum! Center. 

North Carolina was down for the most of the contest, but a late scoring surge helped the Tar Heels capture a hard-fought win. Graduate forward Alyssa Ustby missed her second straight game with injury, but first-year Lanie Grant and junior guard Trayanna Crisp led the way for the Tar Heels, combining for 38 points.

Graduate guard Lexi Donarski got the scoring started for the Tar Heels with a 3-pointer off a Louisville turnover. But two North Carolina turnovers helped a 13-0 Louisville run to give the Cardinals an early 14-3 lead. 

Sophomore guard Reniya Kelly ended UNC’s scoring drought with a corner 3-pointer, cutting the lead to 14-6. But Louisville answered back with a low-post fadeaway from Ja’Leah Williams. 

Senior center Maria Gakdeng finished through contact for the and-1, brining the Tar Heels within seven. 

First-year guard Lanie Grant found herself all alone for a wide open 3-pointer from the top of the key, cutting the deficit to 20-14 after the first quarter. 

Two Louisville layups by Isla Juffermans and Tajianna Roberts increased the lead to 24-14 less than two minutes into the second quarter.

Grant responded with her second basket of the game, finding the bottom of the net off a screen. 

A 3-pointer from Merissah Russell brought the lead back up to 11 for the Cardinals. 

But two threes from junior guard Trayanna Crisp jump started a 9-0 North Carolina run, bringing the Tar Heels within two with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. 

A bad pass turnover from Kelly led to a transition layup for Olivia Cochran, giving Louisville a 35-29 advantage heading into halftime. 

Louisville continued its effective paint penetration with a driving layup courtesy of Nyla Harris, extending the lead to seven. 

Kelly continued her scoring efforts with her second 3-pointer of the game, decreasing the lead to four. 

The Cardinals responded, increasing their lead 48-39 less than five minutes into the quarter on a 3-pointer from Russell.

A baseline jumper courtesy of Donarski and excellent post footwork from Gakdeng got the Tar Heels within five. 

Both offenses continued to produce,  but a late five point scoring burst from Crisp, including a last second 3-pointer, cut the Louisville lead to 55-50 at the end of the third. 

UNC’s turnover issues continued early in the fourth quarter, leading to an and-1 transition layup from Roberts. 

Less than two minutes into the quarter, Donarski converted a pull up jumper from the top-of-the key to make the game 60-54.

Crisp did not let up off the gas, making no mistake on a hard drive to the basket, getting the Tar Heels within four. 

After the Cardinals converted two free throws, Grant’s scoring touch persisted with a leaning-and-1 jumper, cutting the deficit to two for UNC. 

Yet again, Grant was the answer for North Carolina on the offensive end, converting two free throws of her own. A driving layup from Kelly got the Tar Heels within two, 68-66. 

And with less than three minutes remaining in a one possession game, who else but Grant to give North Carolina their first lead, 72-71,  since the first quarter on an and-1 shot from beyond the arc.

After Louisville free throws, Kelly tied the game 75-75 with a driving layup. 

And with a chance to take the lead, it was Crisp again who found the bottom of the net on a hard drive to the basket, giving North Carolina a 77-75 lead with under a minute reaming. 

Kelly made two late free throws, icing the game for the Tar Heels. 

North Carolina will tip-off next when they travel to Durham to face the Duke Blue Devils on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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