Veteran players go cold in UNC women's basketball's loss to N.C. State in ACC tournament semifinals

GREENSBORO — Head coach Courtney Banghart let out a deep breath as she took her seat at the post-game press conference following the ACC tournament semifinal loss. She ran her hands through her hair and crossed her arms. 

Sitting next to Banghart were graduate guard Lexi Donarski and senior center Maria Gakdeng. Gakdeng scanned the reporters ahead of her and the statistic sheet on the table below her. Donarski frowned as she read the statistics, rubbing her hand over her temples. 

What do you say after a beatdown in a high-stakes rivalry game?

“I didn’t coach very well,” Banghart said. “Our players didn’t play very well, and that’s just an honest statement.”

This was Banghart’s simple conclusion after No. 5 seed UNC’s 66-55 defeat against top-seeded N.C. State on Saturday in the semifinals of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament at First Horizon Coliseum. Although North Carolina brought a once 17-point lead to seven heading into halftime, UNC's stars never stepped up to pull off the comeback for a shot at the title game. 

North Carolina's starters combined for 10 of UNC's 13 turnovers, including five from graduate forward Alyssa Ustby. 

The First Team All-ACC selection tallied just six points on 2-9 shooting. Ustby has only recorded fewer points in three contests this season — not including her exit in the opening minutes against the Wolfpack in February. She grabbed only eight rebounds after coming off an 18-board performance against Florida State in the quarterfinals. 

Donarski, North Carolina’s usual sharpshooter, had nine points on 2-7 accuracy from 3-point land. 

Sophomore guard Reniya Kelly tied a season-low two points after going 1-5 from the field. Kelly runs the point for UNC and is in charge of distributing the ball on each offensive possession. On Saturday, she finished the game without a single assist.

Gakdeng was a more consistent presence for North Carolina, securing a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. However, the senior center did not take a shot through all 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.

Kelly and Donarski did not see the floor in the final quarter. 

In comparison, when the Tar Heels toppled the Wolfpack 66-65 less than a month ago, Gakdeng, Donarski and Kelly combined for 12 points of North Carolina’s 18 in the fourth quarter. All three Tar Heels were in double-figure scoring in February. 

Part of the issue may have been the Wolfpack’s 40 minutes worth of unrelenting physicality. Four Tar Heels had three or more fouls. Two Wolfpack post players nearly fouled out trying to contain Gakdeng. The emotions were high on the court for both squads as they battled against each other and against the officials for calls in their favor. 

Was it that game-long vexation? 

Donarski denied it. 

“I don’t think I was very frustrated throughout the whole game,” Donarski said. “I feel like when we play together we’re good.”

Then could it have been the quick turnaround? Did the Tar Heels run out of juice during their third game in three days? Their third team to scout with less than 24 hours to do so?

Gakdeng didn’t think so. 

“We came prepared today,” she said. “We just didn’t follow through with a win.” 

Perhaps the other North Carolina stars could justify the lackluster defeat. 

But they weren’t around. Ustby and Kelly remained in the training room after the game, unavailable for media access. 

Banghart pointed to a lack of execution. 

“We just didn’t play very well,” Banghart said. “Believe me, I wish I had a better answer.”

And that’s all she could offer as the Tar Heels now look ahead to the NCAA tournament in two weeks. 

Maybe they’ll have an answer in that one. 

@meganosmithh

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