In its first game since suffering its first loss of the season last weekend against Alabama, the UNC women’s basketball team responded in a big way on Friday night in Myrtle Beach–as five players scored in double figures on the way to a dominant 85-45 victory over the UNCW Seahawks.

Freshman forward Malu Tshitenge led all scorers with 19 points, as the Tar Heels (9-1) tied their biggest margin of victory so far this season.

In addition to Tshitenge’s contributions, UNC also received 15 points from Medinah Muhammad, 14 from Taylor Koenen, 12 from Shayla Bennett and 10 from Janelle Bailey–representing the fifth time in 10 games this season that at least five players have reached double figures.

Both Tshitenge and Bailey also had double-doubles. Tshitenge grabbed 10 rebounds–six of which came on offense–while Bailey added a team-high 15.

The Tar Heels built a commanding 42-20 lead by halftime and then opened the second half on a 20-0 run to erase all doubt about the final outcome. UNC shot 50 percent for the game, while holding the Seahawks to a putrid 30 percent mark on the other end.

 “I think I learned a lot about our team tonight – how they bounce back from a loss, and not just hating to lose but being accountable for how we win,” UNC head coach Courtney Banghart said afterwards. “Defensively we were much more solid and offensively we shared it the way we know we should and can.”

With the loss, UNCW’s record for the season falls to 3-8.

Up Next:

UNC returns to action next Saturday, Dec. 28 when it hosts Yale at Carmichael Arena in the team’s final non-conference game of the regular season.

 

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Related Stories
‹
Women's Basketball: UNC Adds Sam Miller and Sean Sullivan to Coaching Staff
UNC head women’s basketball coach Courtney Banghart announced Monday that the Tar Heels have added both Sam Miller and Sean Sullivan to the team staff. Miller will serve as Director of Scouting and Video Operations and Sullivan will serve as Director of Player Personnel Development and Recruiting Operations. Most recently, Miller was an assistant coach and […]
Itoro Coleman Hired as UNC Women's Basketball Assistant Coach
The UNC women’s basketball program announced Monday Itoro Coleman has joined the staff as an assistant coach, after spending last season in a similar role at Marquette. Coleman was a three-time All-ACC selection as a player at Clemson, where she would go on to also serve as both an assistant coach and as head coach. […]
UNC Women's Basketball Adding William & Mary Transfer Eva Hodgson
William & Mary guard Eva Hodgson revealed Monday on Twitter that she is transferring to UNC for her final two years of collegiate eligibility. Hodgson sat out the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but started all 60 games she played in during the two years prior. She was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie […]
Janelle Bailey Selected as WBCA All-American Honorable Mention
UNC senior forward Janelle Bailey was named an All-American honorable mention on Monday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association. Bailey has been a four-year starter for the Tar Heels and led the team in both scoring and rebounding this past season, averaging 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. A four-time All-ACC selection and the […]
Petra Holešínská to Compete in College Three-Point Championship
UNC graduate transfer Petra Holešínská was selected Monday to compete in the upcoming State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Holešínská is one of eight players who will compete for the women’s three-point crown on Thursday, after finishing the season as UNC’s top threat from long distance–making 56 total […]
Wake Forest Hands UNC Women's Basketball Early Exit From ACC Tournament
Despite a career-high 23 points from freshman guard Alyssa Ustby, the UNC women’s basketball team fell to Wake Forest 82-71 on Thursday in Greensboro as part of the ACC Tournament Second Round. The Demon Deacons (12-11, 8-10 ACC) were red-hot from three-point range, shooting 10-for-17 from deep on the way to the victory. In addition […]
UNC's Janelle Bailey, Deja Kelly Earn All-ACC Women's Basketball Honors
A pair of Tar Heel women’s basketball standouts earned All-ACC honors on Tuesday, as Janelle Bailey was named an All-ACC honorable mention and Deja Kelly received a spot on the All-Freshman team. Bailey–a senior from Charlotte–has now received All-ACC recognition in each of her four years at UNC. She was the ACC Freshman of the […]
Deja Kelly Earns Second Consecutive ACC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week Honor
UNC point guard Deja Kelly was named the ACC Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week on Monday for the second consecutive week. Kelly scored exactly 22 points in both of the Tar Heels’ wins over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, shooting 51 percent from the floor and going 5-for-9 from three-point range across those two […]
Women's Basketball: UNC Fights Back to Top Virginia Tech in Regular Season Finale
Sunday’s regular season finale in Blacksburg saw the UNC women’s basketball team fight back from a 14-point halftime deficit to top Virginia Tech by a score of 68-63. For the second straight game, freshman point guard Deja Kelly led the Tar Heels (13-9, 8-9 ACC) with exactly 22 points. Senior forward Janelle Bailey added a […]
Three UNC Women's Basketball Signees Named McDonald's All-Americans
A trio of UNC women’s basketball signees for the Class of 2021 were selected as McDonald’s All-Americans on Tuesday, as head coach Courtney Banghart’s team continues to add talent. Destiny Adams, Teonni Key and Kayla McPherson each received the honor, which goes to 24 of the top high school players in America each year. UNC […]
›