Comeback Falls Short as UNC Women’s Basketball Loses at Boston College

The UNC women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome an 18-point fourth quarter deficit at Boston College on Thursday evening, as the Tar Heels fell to the Eagles on the road, 78-74. Boston College came into the night just 3-13 in conference play.

Records went out the window as soon as the ball was tipped, as BC led by seven within minutes and took a 19-12 lead into the second quarter. The Tar Heels stayed close through halftime, cutting the lead down to two points multiple times, but the Eagles began to pull away after the break. The lead grew to 55-44 by the end of the third quarter.

It ballooned to 70-52 with 5:24 remaining in the game before Carolina began to mount a desperate comeback. Spurred on by rare minutes from reserve Sydney Barker, the Tar Heels very nearly achieved the impossible. UNC cut the lead down to 73-69 with 2:01 to go and had multiple chances to get closer, but would only make one more field goal in the game’s final sequence. Carolina missed six of its final seven shots.

Deja Kelly finished a paltry 2-17 from the field. Maria Gakdeng scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in her return to her former school. Only Lexi Donarski (12 points) and Indya Nivar (16 off the bench) joined Gakdeng in double figures. Alyssa Ustby only scored four before fouling out. As a team, Carolina shot 26-73 (35.6 percent).

The loss drops UNC to 18-11 overall and 10-7 in league play heading into the final game of the regular season. That matchup will see the Tar Heels host Duke at Carmichael Arena on Sunday at 4 p.m. The Blue Devils won the season’s first meeting in Durham in overtime.

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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