UNC rallied from a nine-point deficit and an ice-cold shooting performance in the first half to beat Virginia Tech 66-63 in overtime Thursday in Blacksburg. It was Carolina’s first road win at Virginia Tech since 2019.
Carolina had taken a 14-8 lead midway through the first quarter thanks to three-pointers from Ciera Toomey and Indya Nivar, but the Tar Heels wouldn’t make a basket in the final 3:51 of the period as the Hokies rattled off a 10-0 to take the lead entering the second. Virginia Tech led 28-19 in the final seconds of the first half, but UNC caught a break after a Hokie was called for a flagrant foul in a scrum for a loose ball. Lanie Grant made both of the ensuing free throws, cutting the deficit to 28-21 as the teams headed to the locker rooms. Carolina had made only five total shots in the first half and committed 10 turnovers.
UNC steadily chipped away at the deficit after halftime, getting as close as 35-34 after six unanswered points from Toomey, Elina Aarnisalo and Nyla Brooks. Virginia Tech pushed the advantage back to seven late in the third quarter, but the Tar Heels again punched back with baskets from Nivar and Toomey in the quarter’s final minute. The Hokies led 44-42 entering the fourth quarter.
Carolina finally took the lead back after a three-pointer from Brooks and an old-fashioned three-point play from Grant, who muscled her way into the paint and scored while drawing a foul. After Grant made the ensuing free throw, UNC led 54-52. That lead wouldn’t last long, though, as the Hokies got a three-point play of their own 16 seconds later to lead 55-54. Not to be outdone, Grant drilled a go-ahead three with 2:21 remaining, swinging the advantage back to Carolina. Virginia Tech eventually tied the game on a Samyha Suffren layup in the final minute, and UNC didn’t get a shot off on its final possession.
In overtime, it was Aarnisalo’s turn to knock down a big three, giving the Tar Heels a 60-59 lead after the Hokies had opened the scoring in the extra session. Virginia Tech led again at 63-62 before Nyla Harris drew a foul and made both free throws with 1:27 to go. UNC’s defense forced a Suffren miss on the other end, then escaped disaster after turning the ball over only for the Hokies to miss the potential go-ahead basket on the other end with 29 seconds remaining. Grant eventually found her way to the foul line again, making two more free throws to extend Carolina’s lead to 66-63. On the final Virginia Tech offensive possession, Brooks blocked a potential tying three and the Hokies missed two more in the final seconds.
It was a fitting capper on a sensational defensive performance for the Tar Heels down the stretch. Virginia Tech missed its final eight shots and did not score in the game’s final 2:48. As a team, the Hokies shot 22-65 (33.8 percent) from the field. UNC wasn’t much better at 21-57 (36.8 percent).
Harris’ two free throws helped her finish with a team-high 15 points, six of which came at the foul line. Aarnisalo added 13, while Grant finished with 12. The Tar Heels shot an impressive 16-19 (84.2 percent) at the free throw line after not getting there at all in Sunday’s loss at Duke.
Carolina is now 22-6 overall and 11-4 in conference play. Thursday night’s win was critical in UNC’s quest for a double bye in next month’s ACC Tournament, as the Tar Heels now hold head-to-head tiebreakers against Syracuse, NC State and Virginia Tech. UNC and the Orange are currently tied for third place in the league standings, but Carolina’s earlier win means it would be the No. 3 seed in the tournament if the season ended today.
The Tar Heels will be back in action when they host Pitt at Carmichael Arena Sunday at 12 p.m.
Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter
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