You know the story by now.

The UNC women’s basketball team had a slim lead on the road. This time, that lead grew into double digits in the fourth quarter. Even better, it did so inside NC State’s venerable Reynolds Coliseum, where the Tar Heels have yet to win a game under head coach Courtney Banghart.

But as has happened far too often this season, Carolina completely collapsed down the stretch in a hostile environment. So much so that they lost by double digits… in overtime. The Wolfpack prevailed 77-66 after five extra minutes in Raleigh, dropping Banghart to 0-4 inside Reynolds as the UNC head coach.

Small gym? Maybe. What wasn’t small was Carolina’s win probability entering the final five minutes: UNC led 55-45 after a free throw from Paulina Paris with 4:15 to go. But after that, the Wolfpack rallied, using a 9-2 spurt to draw within three with two minutes left. Carolina extended that lead to four with a minute remaining, but a pair of clutch threes from Jakia Brown-Turner kept State alive, and a missed free throw from Kayla McPherson proved costly. The Wolfpack scored a tying layup with 13 seconds remaining to force overtime.

The extra session was no contest: State scored the first seven points and Carolina didn’t hit a shot from the floor until there were 20 seconds left, when the game was already out of reach. It was academic by then: the Wolfpack hit their free throws, and the Tar Heels couldn’t hit water if they jumped into Jordan Lake.

As their winning probability plummeted, so did their chances of A) securing a double-bye at the ACC Tournament and B) hosting in the NCAA Tournament. What seemed certain merely two weeks ago is now more of an uphill climb.

Sure, Carolina could go on a late-season run and wrap up a host spot by performing well in the conference tournament. But if the Tar Heels wilt every time they see a fan dressed in a different color, that isn’t going to happen.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC's Alyssa Ustby, Maria Gakdeng Each Sign WNBA Contracts
Two former Tar Heel women’s basketball stars are getting their shots at the pros. UNC’s Alyssa Ustby signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Sparks Tuesday morning, and Maria Gakdeng signed with the Atlanta Dream later that day. The Sparks have signed Alyssa Ustby as an undrafted free agent. Welcome to Los Angeles, Alyssa! […]
UCLA Transfer Elina Aarnisalo Signs With UNC Women's Basketball
Guard Elina Aarnisalo, who spent her freshman season at UCLA, signed with head coach Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program Tuesday morning. Aarnisalo has three seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining. Welcome to Blue Heaven 🙌 Excited to have Elina join the squad! pic.twitter.com/YmdCzPCHBs — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) April 15, 2025 Aarnisalo, originally […]
Louisville Transfer Nyla Harris Signs With UNC Women's Basketball
Nyla Harris, who spent the previous three seasons with Louisville, signed with head coach Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels out of the transfer portal Friday morning. Harris will have one year of eligibility remaining. Lookin’ Good in Carolina Blue 🩵 Welcome Nyla! pic.twitter.com/ImiW7B5JBm — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) April 4, 2025 “Nyla is the […]
UNC's Trayanna Crisp Enters Transfer Portal After 1 Season in Chapel Hill
After spending her junior season with the UNC women’s basketball program, wing Trayanna Crisp has entered her name back into the transfer portal. Crisp transferred to Carolina in the 2024 offseason after playing her first two seasons at Arizona State. Crisp appeared in 28 games this season with one start, averaging 5.6 points, 1.5 rebounds […]
UNC Women's Basketball Falls to No. 2 Duke in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
UNC women’s basketball put up its worst offensive showing of the season in a 47-38 loss to No. 2 seed Duke in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 Friday afternoon in Birmingham, AL, ending Carolina’s tournament run. The poor showing came after an extremely bright start for the Tar Heels, who led 11-0 midway through the […]
UNC Women's Basketball in the 2025 NCAA Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
No. 3 seed UNC is headed to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 2022, and the Tar Heels will face No. 2 seed Duke in Birmingham, AL Friday for the right to advance to the regional finals Sunday. If you aren’t making the trip with the Tar Heels, here’s how to […]
Chansky's Notebook: Happening Again
UNC and Duke faced each other for the first time in the NCAA Tournament three years ago. It's happening again today with their women’s teams.
UNC Women's Basketball Opponent Breakdown: Duke
No. 3 seed UNC will face a familiar opponent in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 Friday afternoon: No. 2 seed Duke, which defeated No. 15 Lehigh and No. 10 Oregon to reach the regional semifinals. The Blue Devils are 28-7 overall this season and finished 14-4 in ACC play. Here’s a quick breakdown of Duke: […]
Chansky's Notebook: Women Move On!
UNC's second-round win against West Virginia was a special home send-off for the team's seniors, including Alyssa Ustby.
UNC Women's Basketball NCAA Tournament Opponent Breakdown: West Virginia
UNC will take on No. 6 seed West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament’s second round Monday night for the right to advance to the Sweet 16. The Mountaineers defeated No. 11 seed Columbia 78-59 in the first round Saturday and are 25-7 overall this season. They finished with a 13-5 record in the Big 12 […]
›