Reniya Kelly scored a career-high 23 points and Carolina rallied from a late deficit to beat No. 10 NC State 66-65 at a sold-out Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon. It’s UNC’s fifth win in its last six home games against the Wolfpack.

Carolina overcame an early exit from star Alyssa Ustby, who left the game with an undisclosed injury less than three minutes into the first quarter and did not return. Without their leading rebounder, the Tar Heels struggled mightily on the glass: the Wolfpack finished the game with a 55-35 rebounding advantage and an 18-2 edge in second-chance points.

But despite being undermanned, the Tar Heels carried a seven-point lead into halftime thanks to 13 first-half points from Kelly. Carolina outscored NC State 18-4 in the second quarter and held the Wolfpack to only two made shots.

NC State steadily chipped away at the lead in the second half, cutting it to three points at the end of the third quarter and finally drawing level at 50-50 early in the fourth. After Carolina took a 54-50 lead, NC State scored 10 unanswered points to take a 60-54 lead with 2:43 to go. UNC had made just two shots in the first 7:17 of the fourth quarter.

Big three-pointers from Kelly and Lexi Donarski kept the Tar Heels in it, but the score still stood at 65-60 with 1:32 to go. Freshman Lanie Grant then scored four consecutive points, drawing UNC back to within 65-64 with 39 seconds left. After a missed shot by the Wolfpack, reserve guard Grace Townsend drew a foul with five seconds left and made both free throws to give the lead back to the Tar Heels. NC State didn’t get a shot off on its final possession, as Aziaha James slipped and fell on her drive to the basket.

The victory improves UNC to 23-4 overall and 11-3 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will be back in action when they visit Syracuse on Thursday night at 6 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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