Head coach Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball team left nothing to chance in their season opener Tuesday afternoon. The Tar Heels controlled play against North Carolina A&T from tip-off to final buzzer, never trailing and leading by as many as 52 points in a 92-47 win at Carmichael Arena.
Five Tar Heels scored in double figures, including forward Alyssa Ustby, who was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List in October. Ustby’s 15 points tied her for the team lead with teammate Carlie Littlefield. Littlefield, a transfer from Banghart’s former school Princeton, shot 6-7 from the field and knocked down a team-high three three-pointers. This was her first official game in 613 days, as the Ivy League did not play basketball during the 2020-21 season.
Hot shooting was the theme of the night, with guard Eva Hodgson coming off the bench and not missing a single field goal for the entire game. Hodgson, a redshirt junior transfer from William & Mary, shot 5-5 from the field and 2-2 from three-point territory to pour in 13 points. Hodgson’s only miss of the game came on her easiest opportunity: a free throw.
Two members of Banghart’s heralded freshman class, Morasha Wiggins and Destiny Adams, each played 12 minutes in the game. Adams impressed by knocking down three of her four shots and contributing seven points.
As a team, UNC shot 7-14 from behind the three-point line, with the Aggies hitting just two. Twelve Tar Heels saw playing time throughout the blowout win, and 10 scored at least a point.
“I was happy that through the roster people made contributions,” Banghart said. “There wasn’t any sort of ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ or ‘I’m tentative.’ It was people that have pride in helping us be good here and they did that.”
For much of the team, Tuesday’s win also represented the first time playing in front of a fan-filled Carmichael Arena, as only three players on the roster were in Chapel Hill prior to the 2020-21 season.
“Collectively, it just felt really good to play in front of people in the stands,” said sophomore guard Deja Kelly, who scored 13 points and hit two three-pointers. “I think it was just exciting for all of us just to play basketball again.”
“A shout-out to the fans,” Banghart added. “Our student section was completely jammed and that was awesome.”
Carolina will have to leave that student section behind for their next game. The Tar Heels will visit the Charlotte 49ers for a true road test on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. UNC won a close battle with Charlotte in Chapel Hill last season by an 81-75 score.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jerome M. Ibrahim
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