Virginia closed Sunday’s game at Carmichael Arena on a 15-4 run to stun UNC 78-75 in the regular-season finale. It’s the Tar Heels’ second straight loss – the first time they’ve lost consecutive games this season – and first at home to the Cavaliers since 2001.

The Tar Heels led for much of the game, opening up a lead as large as 18 points at 41-23 late in the first half. But in a sign of things to come, the Cavaliers closed the first half on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 41-30 at halftime. Virginia opened the second half red hot from long distance, shooting 6-8 on threes to cut UNC’s deficit even further. The score stood at 60-56 in favor of the Tar Heels at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth, UNC seemed poised to pull away after taking a 71-63 lead with 5:22 remaining. But the Tar Heels managed only two made shots for the rest of the way, while Virginia scored its final six points from the free throw line to pull ahead for the first time since the opening minutes. The Cavaliers’ 11 made threes are the most allowed by UNC since January 19.

Maria Gakdeng celebrated her senior day with a career-high 25 points, while adding nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Lexi Donarski added 18, though she missed a potential game-tying three-pointer as time expired. Indya Nivar scored 12.

“We ran out of gas,” head coach Courtney Banghart said afterward. “And just couldn’t really get out of playing tired in that second half.”

UNC was playing its fourth straight game without Alyssa Ustby and second straight without Reniya Kelly, both of whom sat out with lower-body injuries. Banghart confirmed both players have been practicing and said both would play in the NCAA Tournament. She did not make any guarantees for either’s availability during next week’s ACC Tournament.

“We think we’ll be healthier by then,” Banghart said.

The Tar Heels end the regular season with a 25-6 overall record and 13-5 mark in ACC competition. The complete bracket for next week’s ACC Tournament in Greensboro will be finalized once all of Sunday’s action around the league has concluded.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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