Carolina overcame a 25-22 halftime deficit to beat Clemson 53-51 Sunday afternoon in Littlejohn Coliseum. The win keeps the Tar Heels a perfect 7-0 in true road games this season.

Reniya Kelly and Maria Gakdeng combined for 29 points, though no other Tar Heel scored more than eight. It was an offensive struggle for much of the afternoon for Carolina, as UNC shot just 4-18 (22.2 percent) in the first quarter and sat at 13-43 (30.2 percent) through three quarters. But despite the poor shooting, Carolina held a 37-36 lead entering the fourth quarter. Clemson shot just 12-38 (31.5 percent) through three quarters.

The scoring picked up in the final quarter, with each team taking the lead in the final five minutes. Consecutive buckets from Grace Townsend gave Carolina a 49-45 lead with 3:24 to go, but Clemson’s Hannah Kohn made all three free throws after being fouled shooting a three-pointer less than 30 seconds later to cut the lead to 49-48. A Clemson three with 2:14 remaining then put the Tigers in front.

Gakdeng knotted the score at 51-51 with two minutes to go before Kelly made the game-winning shot in the final minute.

Clemson missed a potential go-ahead three on its next possession, and Carolina corralled the rebound before calling timeout. But the Tar Heels then committed a backcourt violation on the ensuing inbound pass, as Lanie Grant ran toward the wrong end of the court while receiving the ball. The Tigers got the ball back but did not get off a shot; Kelly stole a Clemson inbound pass under the basket in the final two seconds to seal the victory.

UNC dominated the glass, outrebounding the Tigers 42-25. It was UNC’s largest rebounding advantage of ACC play and the second-largest of the season. Alyssa Ustby led all players with 13 rebounds, while Kelly set a new career high with eight.

Carolina saw a familiar face during the game, as former Tar Heel Anya Poole played 11 minutes for Clemson and scored two points. Poole played for UNC for four seasons.

The victory improves UNC to 21-4 overall and 9-3 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will return to action when they host Virginia Tech at Carmichael Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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