Following a big week which featured a win over then-No. 3 Louisville and the program’s first win over Florida State in seven tries, the UNC women’s basketball team jumped six spots in this week’s AP Poll, from No. 24 to No. 18.

Carolina’s leap comes as 13 ranked teams lost in the past week. The No. 18 spot is UNC’s highest ranking under third-year head coach Courtney Banghart, and highest at all since the 2014-15 season. The Tar Heels previously rose to as high as No. 19 this season.

Five other ACC teams feature in the poll. NC State and Louisville are Nos. 3 and 4, Notre Dame checks in at No. 14, and Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are Nos. 22 and 23.

Carolina will attempt to defend its ranking in the final week of the regular season. First up is a road trip to Virginia on Thursday, before Duke visits Carmichael Arena for Senior Day the following Sunday. The ACC Tournament in Greensboro will begin the next week. UNC, which sits in fifth place in the conference, is still in play for a top four spot and a double-bye in the tournament, but would need to leapfrog either Virginia Tech or Notre Dame to secure it. Carolina split the season series with the Hokies and lost its only meeting with the Fighting Irish.

For a complete look at the AP Poll, click here.

 

Featured image via Associated Press

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