Maria Gakdeng tied a season high with 21 points and added 12 rebounds to lead Carolina past Miami 69-60 on Sunday afternoon. It’s UNC’s first ACC win of the season.

Alyssa Ustby joined Gakdeng in the double-double party, scoring 17 points to go along with 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Gakdeng and Ustby helped the Tar Heels build an early nine-point lead in the first quarter, and Carolina led 21-14 after 10 minutes. UNC’s defense held the Hurricanes without a made field goal for more than five minutes during the quarter.

The Tar Heel lead ballooned to 17 at different points in the second, third and fourth quarters. Miami never led again after taking a 5-4 lead less than two minutes into the game.

Carolina’s defense forced 15 Miami turnovers, while the Tar Heels turned the ball over a season-low four times. That deficit helped UNC finish with a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Tar Heels also dominated points in the paint, doubling up the Hurricanes 40-20. Miami shot just 38.5 percent in the fourth quarter, though the Hurricanes’ 60 points are the most given up by the Tar Heels in a win this season.

UNC’s win snaps a four-game losing streak at Miami and is the team’s first win there since 2015. Now 13-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play, Carolina will return home to Carmichael Arena on January 5 when it hosts No. 3 Notre Dame at 1 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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