With the help of two-time ACC Player of the Week sophomore Stephanie Mavunga, the North Carolina women’s basketball team has jumped one spot to eighth-best in the national rankings.
The Tar Heels hold a record of 14-1 and are set to face the 10-4 Pittsburgh Panthers Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the Steel City.
In this past week alone, Mavunga has averaged 24.5 points on 76 percent shooting from the field as well as 10.5 rebounds. Carolina’s low post has now become hers to dominate and Mavunga looks forward to leading her team into the next conference challenge.
“I know (Assistant Coach Andrew Calder) is always yelling at me to be patient, so I think I’m being a lot more patient,” Mavunga says. “And now that Xylina is not in there, I feel like (Danielle Butts) has more of an outside game than Xylina does, and that opens up the post a little more for me.”
The Tar Heels are up against an underdog that is quickly rising through the ranks, led by senior guard Brianna Kiesel. Kiesel averages 17.9 points, and almost five rebounds and assists per game.
Allisha Gray has been key to UNC’s success this season (Elliott Rubin)
Although Pitt is unranked, they are starting their season with their best record in years at 10-4. Before a very narrow 6-point loss to No. 7 Louisville, the Panthers had not lost a game since December 7th.
Pitt and UNC have not had a matchup on the Panthers’ home court since January 2, 1981, in which the Tar Heels fell 79-67.
The game will be broadcast on 97.9 FM, WCHL and televised on ESPN3.
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