Deja Kelly scored a season-high 27 points as the UNC women’s basketball team fought off a pesky Virginia team, 81-68, at Carmichael Arena on Sunday.

The victory came as the program both celebrated Alumni Day and the 30th anniversary of the 1994 national championship team. The Tar Heels wore special throwback uniforms for the occasion.

It was Kelly’s second straight game eclipsing the 20-point plateau after scoring just 13 points combined in the previous two games. She and fellow senior Alyssa Ustby combined for 44 points, with Ustby adding 12 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season.

No other Tar Heel reached double figures, but all but one to see time on the floor scored. That team effort was needed to fight off several Virginia attempts to rally. The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but closed on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 37-32 at halftime. It was more of the same in the third, as UNC opened up a 52-45 lead but Virginia used another 7-0 run to tie the game for the first time since the opening tip-off.

The Cavaliers couldn’t quite climb the mountain though, as Carolina shot 50 percent and scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to finally pull away. Kelly scored nine points in the period, including a 5-5 mark at the foul line (she entered the game shooting below 60 percent on free throws).

Carolina is still undefeated against Virginia under head coach Courtney Banghart. Sunday’s win improves the Tar Heels to 12-5 overall and 4-1 in ACC play. The team will be back in action on Thursday when it visits Georgia Tech at 6 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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