Despite trailing by as many as 21 points during the first half on Sunday afternoon at Carmichael Arena, the UNC women’s basketball team surged back for a dominant 95-70 victory over High Point.

Graduate student Stephanie Watts led UNC (3-0) with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the game, her most since returning back to the Tar Heels after spending last season at USC. She added six assists and five steals in what was a dominant all-around individual effort.

Freshman Alyssa Ustby joined Watts in adding a double-double off the bench, as she finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

UNC also received 15 points from Janelle Bailey and Anya Poole, while getting 12 from graduate transfer Petra Holešínská.

After scoring the first basket of the game, the Tar Heels allowed High Point to go on a 20-0 run to take a commanding early lead.

Preseason Big South Conference Preseason Player of the Year Skyler Curran had 22 points for High Point (0-1) in the first quarter alone. Over the final three quarters, however, Curran added just six points to that total.

High Point largely relied on its outside shooting as UNC posted a significant 62-14 scoring advantage inside the paint–which allowed the Tar Heels to slowly chip away at the early deficit with easy shots around the basket.

Head coach Courtney Banghart said before the season that plenty of players would get a chance to show what they’ve got early in the season, and so far the production has been incredible–with six players averaging double figures in scoring through the team’s first three games.

Up Next:

The Tar Heels host South Carolina State on Thursday at 6 p.m.

 

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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