In its first-ever game in the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis, Carolina used a combined 27 points off the bench from Lanie Grant and Trayanna Crisp to beat Ball State 63-52 in the opening round and advance to Sunday’s semifinals.

Grant, still just 17 years old after reclassifying into the recruiting class of 2024, poured in 15 points in 27 minutes, the most in her young collegiate career. All three of her made field goals were three-pointers, and the freshman added six at the free throw line as well. Crisp, a transfer from Arizona State, contributed 12 points on 4-5 shooting.

Alyssa Ustby put together her best all-around game of the season, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds (among them the 1,000th board of her UNC career) to register her first double-double of the campaign. She added three assists, two steals and a block.

UNC jumped out to a 19-10 lead at the end of the first quarter on threes from Lexi Donarski, Grant and Ustby, then extended that lead to as large as 35-21 late in the second. But the Cardinals responded, cutting the deficit to six points by halftime and then to as little as four in the third quarter. Carolina answered with a 9-0 spurt, capped off by another three from Grant to push the advantage back to 13. Ball State wouldn’t get any closer than 52-44 for the rest of the evening.

Head coach Courtney Banghart also collected a milestone, earning her 100th win with the Tar Heels. Banghart is currently in her sixth season in Chapel Hill.

With the win, UNC improves to 4-1 this season. The Tar Heels will face the winner of Texas A&M and Villanova in the tournament semifinals on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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