UNC shot better than 70 percent in the first quarter and finished well above 50 percent for the game in a 94-42 win against SMU at Carmichael Arena Thursday night. The 52-point margin of victory is Carolina’s largest ever in an ACC game, and it was also the 400th win in the career of head coach Courtney Banghart.
The Tar Heels made their final six shots of the first quarter to open up a 28-9 lead after just 10 minutes, capped by a three-pointer from Laila Hull. UNC shot 11-15 (73.3 percent) as a team across those 10 minutes, with seven different players scoring.
In the second quarter, UNC’s offense “cooled off” to 57.1 percent (8-14) from the floor, but it was still enough to extend the lead to 31 points at 49-18 entering halftime. SMU finished the half with more turnovers (eight) than made shots (five). UNC made more three-pointers (nine) than the Mustangs had made shots of any kind.
By the end of the game, UNC’s statistical dominance hadn’t slackened. The Tar Heels shot 38-66 (57.6 percent) compared to SMU’s 12-52 (23.1 percent), outscored the Mustangs 52-18 in the paint, 25-8 on the fast break, 30-12 off turnovers and 12-3 second-chance opportunities. Carolina also held a 50-20 edge on the glass and a 24-4 advantage in assists.
Lanie Grant led the way for Carolina with 15 points, while Indya Nivar and freshman Taliyah Henderson combined for 27 points while not missing a shot from the field. Hull scored 11, with all of her made shots coming on threes. As a team, UNC shot 9-12 on threes in the first half and 12-26 (46.2 percent) for the game. Carolina didn’t let up after subbing out its regular rotation players, finishing the game on a 12-1 run and ensuring its largest lead of 52 points came at the final buzzer.
Thursday’s win is the eighth in a row for the Tar Heels, who are now 21-5 overall and 10-3 in ACC play, tied with NC State for third in the league. UNC has the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Wolfpack by virtue of its win in Raleigh last week. Up next, Carolina will travel back down Tobacco Road to visit No. 11 Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. on ABC.
Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter
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