A pair of Tar Heel women’s basketball freshmen earned All-ACC Academic honors on Wednesday, the day before UNC begins its run in the ACC Tournament.

Guards Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby were each among 41 total players selected from the conference. The All-ACC Academic team recognizes both academic and athletic success during the 2020-21 season.

Both players have made an immediate impact on the court for the Tar Heels, earning places in the starting lineup for the majority of the season.

Kelly is a communications major from San Antonio who was a McDonald’s All-American prior to arriving in Chapel Hill. She is the two-time reigning ACC Freshman of the Week and was named an All-ACC Freshman team selection after averaging 10.9 points per game–including an average of 19.3 points over her last four outings.

Ustby–from Rochester, Minnesota–led the Tar Heels in minutes played while posting averages of 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She has yet to declare a major.

The duo will help UNC begin its ACC Tournament run on Thursday, as the No. 8 seed Tar Heels take on No. 9 seed Wake Forest at the Greensboro Coliseum.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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