Florida State handed the No. 13 UNC women’s basketball team its second straight loss Thursday night, defeating the Tar Heels 78-71 in Carmichael Arena. It’s the first time Carolina has dropped consecutive games since the end of the 2020-21 season.

UNC led by as many as nine points in the first half and six points at halftime, bolstered by a combined 26 points from Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby in the first 20 minutes. But a 13-1 Seminole run midway through the third quarter flipped a 47-42 Tar Heel lead into a 55-48 deficit, and Florida State wouldn’t relinquish the lead for the rest of the night. Carolina closed to within a point on two separate instances in the final quarter, but could never get over the hump. Florida State outscored the Tar Heels 43-30 in the second half.

Kelly finished with 20 points while Ustby and Kennedy Todd-Williams each contributed 16, but Carolina only mustered four bench points to Florida State’s 21. The Seminoles also carried a decisive advantage in rebounds (51-41) and second-chance points (37-5). Florida State’s Makayla Timpson posted a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Ustby also registered a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, her fourth in five games and 21st of her career.

For Carolina, the loss is the team’s third straight against a Power 5 opponent this season. It drops the team to 9-3 overall and 0-1 in ACC play. Another tough matchup awaits on Sunday, as the Tar Heels will travel to Blacksburg to take on the No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies. Virginia Tech defeated UNC in Blacksburg last season.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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