A 12-0 run in the second quarter helped UNC overcome an early deficit and beat Davidson 76-66 in a preseason exhibition at Carmichael Arena Sunday afternoon.

The 12-0 Tar Heel run flipped a 23-20 deficit into a 32-23 lead in a span of less than two minutes in the second quarter. The Wildcats had begun on the front foot, leading 12-7 midway through the first quarter and 22-17 at the quarter break. Davidson shot 8-for-13 (61.5%) in the opening 10 minutes, compared to 7-for-19 (36.8%) for UNC.

Carolina flipped the script in the second quarter thanks to more efficient shooting (8-for-15, 53.3%) and solid contributions off the bench. Of the Tar Heels’ 23 points in the quarter, 17 came from reserves Gabby White, Taissa Queiroz, Blanca Thomas and Noelle Bofia. The two teams went into halftime tied at 40-40.

Davidson continued to hang tough in the second half, taking the lead again at 47-45 midway through the third quarter before a 7-0 Carolina run gave the Tar Heels the lead back. The game was tied as late as the 4:45 mark of the fourth quarter at 61-61, but a Nyla Brooks three-pointer broke the tie for good and helped the Tar Heels close the game on a 15-5 run.

Five-star freshman Kate Harpring earned the start in her first college action, and she ended her afternoon with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Oklahoma State transfer Achol Akot was Carolin’s leading scorer and rebounder with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

UNC will have one more preseason exhibition before it begins the regular season in November. The Tar Heels visit Maryland next Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. The two teams met in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with UNC winning to advance to the Sweet 16.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter


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