All five starters scored in double figures for the UNC women’s basketball team on Thursday night in Charlottesville, as the Tar Heels rolled to a 65-47 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers.

Junior forward Janelle Bailey led the charge with 16 points and five rebounds, while senior guard Medinah Muhammad was just behind with 11 points of her own. Malu Tshitenge, Shayla Bennett and Taylor Koenen each added 10 points apiece.

This win was UNC’s first win in its ACC road opener since the 2013-14 season, and it moves head coach Courtney Banghart’s team to 11-2 overall and 2-0 inside the ACC. Virginia, meanwhile, falls to 5-8 with an 0-2 mark in conference play.

Thursday’s game was ultimately decided in the second quarter, where they outscored the Cavaliers 25-6 to take a commanding 14-point halftime lead. UNC hit six of its eight three-pointers in that quarter alone and never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.

Defensively, the Tar Heels recorded 12 steals and forced Virginia to turn the ball over 21 times–another statistic that helped swing the outcome of the game.

“Every win in the ACC is a tough one – our players know that better than me,” Banghart said. “To go on the road and play a team that has played the best schedule in the country is hard. We knew it was going to be a fight on every possession and it was.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels will look to make it three consecutive wins to open ACC competition as they stay in the state of Virginia to take on Virginia Tech this Sunday at 2 p.m. on the ACC Network.

 

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Related Stories
‹
Virginia Cancels Rest of Women's Basketball Season, Includes Two Games Against UNC
The University of Virginia canceled the remainder of its women’s basketball season on Thursday, which includes two games against UNC–scheduled for Jan 21 and Feb 14. Health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the move, with Virginia joining Duke as ACC schools to shut down women’s basketball for the season. Virginia played just […]
UNC Women's Basketball Takes Down Virginia
Behind 23 points and 17 rebounds from junior forward Janelle Bailey on Thursday night at Carmichael Arena, the UNC women’s basketball team rolled to a 78-68 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers. This marks the Tar Heels’ second win over Virginia (8-13, 3-7 ACC) by double digits this season, as UNC improved its record to 15-6 […]
Women's Basketball: UNC Locks Down Virginia in 70-53 Victory on Alumni Day
With over 70 former players, coaches and staff members on hand Sunday at Carmichael Arena, the UNC women’s basketball team clamped down on the Virginia Cavaliers on the way to a 70-53 victory. The Tar Heels (16-11, 7-6 ACC) held Virginia (10-15, 4-8 ACC) to just 29 percent shooting from the floor, and led for […]
Virginia Pounds UNC Women's Basketball, Drops Tar Heels to 4-4 in ACC Play
From start to finish, the Virginia Cavaliers dominated the UNC women’s basketball team Thursday night in Charlottesville–defeating the Tar Heels 82-70 at John Paul Jones Arena. Five players scored in double figures for Virginia (14-7, 7-1 ACC)–including 19 from Aliyah Huland El–as the Cavaliers led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and took […]
Tar Heel Women To Take On Cavaliers In Charlottesville
The No. 11 North Carolina women’s basketball team, 20-6 on the season and 8-4 in the ACC, will look to continue its fine play of late when it takes on Virginia, 13-12 overall and 6-6 in conference, Thursday in Charlottesville for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.
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 […]
›