Despite trailing Colorado by as many as 18 points just before halftime on Sunday afternoon at Carmichael Arena, the UNC women’s basketball team put together a ferocious second-half rally to force overtime–and then ultimately defeated the Buffaloes by a score of 87-80.

The Tar Heels (1-1) were led by their star backcourt of Paris Kea and Jamie Cherry–as the two Preseason All-ACC selections combined for 54 points, 14 assists, nine rebounds and five steals.

Kea accounted for a game-high 28 points and nine assists herself, but it was Cherry who sank what was perhaps the most important shot of the game.

With a knack for making clutch shots in her career, Cherry did it again on Sunday–as her three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining gave UNC a two-point lead.

Aubrey Knight countered with a lay-up on the other end for Colorado (1-1), however, which sent the game to overtime.

Colorado also got 24 points from All-Pac 12 Guard Kennedy Leonard and 16 points from Alexis Robinson.

In the extra period, Kea opened up scoring with a nice drive to the basket and the Tar Heels never looked back–holding onto the lead the rest of the way.

It was the largest comeback head coach Sylvia Hatchell’s squad has had since 2014, when UNC again dug out of an 18-point hole in its NCAA Tournament First Round matchup against UT Martin.

Up Next:

UNC returns to action on at Carmichael Arena on Thursday, Nov. 16 when it hosts Radford. Tip-off that night is set for 6 p.m.

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (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 […]
›