The No. 18 UNC women’s basketball team took the court in Carmichael Arena one final time in the regular season Sunday afternoon, and left with a rousing season sweep of the Duke Blue Devils. On a day when the program honored graduate Carlie Littlefield and senior Jaelynn Murray, the Tar Heels thumped their rivals for the second time this season, winning 74-46 in front of a season-high crowd of 5,230.

“I don’t do a good job always of taking things in,” head coach Courtney Banghart said. “I move to the next thing a little quickly. But I wanted [the players] to take in the fact that there were 5,000 people there that were watching them put their work in. And it made for a special environment for sure.”

“The crowd tonight was amazing,” said Littlefield. “My family was able to be here, as well as my high school coaches. And we killed Duke, so there’s nothing more I could ask for on my Senior Day.”

The Carolina defense smothered the Blue Devils in the first half, allowing just eight points each in the first and second quarters. Duke finished the first half with more turnovers (8) than made field goals (7). Alyssa Ustby led the way offensively in the half, scoring 10 of UNC’s 34 points and playing a team-high 18 minutes. On a day when outside shooting proved to be a struggle, Ustby and her frontcourt partner Anya Poole did good work inside. Poole finished tied with Ustby for the team lead with 15 points on the game. That’s a career-high for Poole in ACC games.

“Anya’s living proof that if you put dedicated work in in the offseason… you’re gonna have a better year than you had previously,” Banghart said. “And that kid put a lot of time in.”

Poole’s best quarter also happened to be the team’s best. She scored 10 of Carolina’s 22 points in the third, a period which the Tar Heels won 22-10 to truly put the game on ice. A 34-16 lead at halftime ballooned into a 56-26 margin, and it was all academic from there.

Littlefield finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes on her Senior Day, including a four-point play in the third quarter. She notched her second career double-double in possibly her last regular season home game in a Carolina uniform, though both the Princeton transfer and Banghart are hopeful the NCAA will grant her an extra year of eligibility (the Ivy League did not play in the 2020-21 season).

Murray, who has struggled with injuries this season, contributed seven points off the bench in just seven minutes, including a jumper to beat the shot clock late in the game.

“I was so proud of myself,” Murray said. “Just everything I’ve been through. I stuck with it.”

Banghart has praised Murray this season, saying, “being around Jaelynn has made me a better person.”

“She inspires me,” Murray said of her head coach. “She always talks about how positive I am, but she’s literally almost the same person. I think we were made for each other. I’m so glad that she came here and I got to play for her.”

Littlefield, who played under Banghart with Princeton before Banghart left to take the UNC job, also spoke highly of her coach.

“I view her as my role model,” Littlefield said. “She’s such a strong female leader. And she’s done so much for me. She’s given me two opportunities at two incredible schools. Really, enough can’t be said. I love Coach Banghart.”

Carolina ended the game Sunday with one eye toward the ACC scoreboard. The Tar Heels can clinch a top four spot and a double-bye in the upcoming ACC Tournament if NC State beats Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The team is also hopeful their strong finish to the season, coupled with a good showing in Greensboro, can potentially earn UNC a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That would mean a first- and second-round “pod” of three games would be played in Carmichael Arena for the first time since 2015.

That question won’t be resolved until Selection Sunday on March 13. For now, the Tar Heels have clinched a finish of no worse than fifth in the ACC. Should they indeed be the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, they will play their opening game on Thursday at 11 a.m. If Carolina is the No. 4 seed, it will play on Friday at the same time.

Regardless of postseason seeding, there’s little doubt that the program just completed its most successful regular season in Banghart’s three-year tenure in Chapel Hill.

“We’re gonna be a tough out,” she said of her team’s chances in March. “I’m less worried about the matchup, although that’s always very important. I just think this team has deserved to host, to play in front of Carmichael again. And I hope they get to do that.”

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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