Returning to the court on Sunday at Carmichael Arena for the first time in three weeks, the UNC women’s basketball team was on the wrong end of a 69-59 score line against the Miami Hurricanes.

Senior center Janelle Bailey tallied 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Tar Heels (7-3, 2-3 ACC), which was good enough for her 40th career double-double but not enough to avoid the team’s second loss to Miami this season.

The game was tied 30-30 at halftime, but Miami (6-4, 3-4 ACC) responded with a big third quarter–taking an 11-point lead into the final period it would ultimately hold on to the rest of the way.

Kelsey Marshall led the Hurricanes with 19 points, including four made shots from three-point range.

For the Tar Heels, graduate transfer Petra Holešínská added 10 points as the only other UNC player besides Bailey to score in double figures.

UNC shot just 31 percent as a team and turned the ball over 18 times, which ultimately proved to be the difference against a Miami team that converted on 46 percent of its shots from the floor.

The double-digit loss was the first head coach Courtney Banghart’s Tar Heels have suffered all season.

“When we watch that tape back I think there are a lot of things were going to really like,” Banghart said afterwards. “We’re moving the ball better, we’re sharing it better, we’re playing outside-in better, but we were a little bit rusty with our shots and kind of in all facets of the game. But I like who we are, and I like where we are.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, when they host Virginia Tech in a game set to tip off at 6 p.m.

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.