The ACC has developed into a powerhouse for basketball this season, and UNC women’s basketball is looking to beat their fifth ranked opponent with a hopeful win over No. 25 Syracuse Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

The Tar Heels are ranked No. 15 with an 18-4 record largely due to the ACC’s Player of the Week sophomore forward Stephanie Mavunga. This is Mavunga’s third conference top player honor this season, and she is currently averaging 17.4 points and 10 rebounds over her last 10 games. In last game’s win over Boston College, she scored 25 points and grabbed her 500th career rebound.

For the Orange, Thursday’s game makes the third match in a row against a top-25 ranked team, a schedule they haven’t seen since 2005. Syracuse also has a front court threat of its own in sophomore center Briana Day. A native of Raleigh, Day leads the ACC in blocks with 3 per game and ranks second in rebounds with 11.

Syracuse and Carolina will be meeting for the fifth time. The Tar Heels own a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series, but the Orange took the last meeting last season in Chapel Hill, N.C. with a 78-73 victory. UNC was then ranked No. 6 in the country, which marked the highest ranked opponent Syracuse had ever beaten on the road.

The game will broadcast on ESPN3.

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