NEWARK, DEL-After a disappointing run in the 2011-2012 postseason, the UNC women’s basketball team is ready to reclaim its position as a dominant force in the NCAA tournament.
Last year’s season ended early for UNC, after they fell to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal and failed to earn an NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 2001. But this year, the Heels not only made the cut—they took a respectable No. 3 seed.

UNC is set to open its tournament action against No. 14 seeded Albany, but the Great Danes could prove a tough match—they’re at 27-3 overall, compared to 28-6 for the Heels, and they’re coming off 19 straight wins. Albany also goes into the tournament with an America East Conference championship title, along with a perfect conference record at 16-0.

Senior guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt is leading the Heels, with team high averages for both points and assists, at 15.4 and 4.5, respectively. Meanwhile, senior Krista Gross is dominating on the boards, at 8.5 rebounds per game. For the Great Danes, senior guard Lindsey Lowrie is averaging a team-high 11.6 points, and she scored 12 in Albany’s America East championship game against Hartford; sophomore center Megan Craig managed seven rebounds during that outing.

If the Heels win, they’ll play on Tuesday in the round of 32, taking on the winner of Sunday afternoon’s game between sixth-seeded Delaware and eleventh-seeded West Virginia.

Tipoff between UNC and Albany is set for Sunday afternoon on the University of Delware’s campus at 2:30, Eastern Time. Due to our coverage of the UNC men’s NCAA tournament, the game will not be broadcast on WCHL, but it will be available online; click here for to the live stream.

Related Stories
‹
Michael Koh's Top 5 and Bottom 5 Moments of the 2022-23 UNC Sports Season
With the 2022-23 UNC sports season now in the books, it’s time to both look ahead to 2023-24 and look back on the year that was. Tar Heel teams across nearly 30 sports competed in various NCAA championships, with levels of success ranging from the top of the mountain to the depths of despair. I’m […]
The 2021-22 UNC Athletics Season In Review
With the conclusion of the Men’s College World Series in Omaha earlier this week, the 2021-22 NCAA season is officially over. Twenty-eight UNC varsity teams took to the fields, courts, diamonds, pools and tracks this past season, as well as several other teams at the non-NCAA club level (looking at you, ultimate). All in all, […]
UNC To Upgrade Facilities for Four Different Sports Across Campus
Carolina Athletics announced new renovations and enhancements to four different sports facilities across campus Tuesday afternoon. The school is upgrading facilities for women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, and football. Each are expected to be completed within the next year and a half, with a total cost of approximately $51 million. […]
UNC Women's Tennis Falls to No. 1 Georgia in NCAA Semifinals
Playing without ACC Player of the Year Reese Brantmeier, UNC struggled in its national semifinal match against No. 1 Georgia in Waco, TX Saturday. The Bulldogs controlled the match throughout and defeated the Tar Heels 4-0, ending Carolina’s season. Georgia won the doubles point thanks to wins on No. 1 and No. 2 court. UNC […]
Chansky's Notebook: Gritty Wins
Art Chansky will no doubt appreciate that both the Celtics and the Tar Heels earned gritty wins despite distressing injury news.
UNC Women's Tennis Advances to National Semifinals Despite Reese Brantmeier's Injury
UNC overcame an early injury to ACC Player of the Year Reese Brantmeier in singles to beat No. 13 LSU 4-2 in the NCAA quarterfinals in Waco, TX Thursday afternoon. Carolina is back in the Final Four for the fourth time in five seasons. See y'all in the semis 👋#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/4K9RFcra8S — Carolina […]
Art's Angle: Women's World
This past weekend was about the young women who make Carolina great in so many ways, particularly on the fields and courts. On Friday, the tennis Tar Heels defeated N.C. State for the third time this season, and this one was tougher than beating the Wolfpack in the regular season and the ACC tournament semifinals. […]
UNC Women's Tennis Beats No. 12 NC State, Advances to NCAA Quarterfinals
No. 5 overall seed UNC overcame a rare loss in doubles to beat No. 12 NC State 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 16 Friday night at the Chewning Tennis Center. The Tar Heels will now advance to the NCAA Championship, which begins next week in Waco, TX. CAROLINA VICTORY!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/MumTCAtTvp — […]
UNC Women's Tennis Advances to NCAA Super Regionals; Will Face No. 12 NC State Next
No. 5 overall seed UNC swept its way past VCU and South Carolina at the Chewning Tennis Center during the weekend to advance to the NCAA Tournament super regionals next weekend. The action got underway Friday afternoon, with the Tar Heels taking the court against the Rams after South Carolina had defeated Kansas in the […]
Chansky's Notebook: Athlete and Artist
UNC's Reese Brantmeier wants to play professional tennis, but has an obvious interest in a second satisfying, competitive career.
›