The UNC women’s basketball team used stifling second-half defense and a combined 36 points from Deja Kelly and Alyssa Ustby to defeat Oklahoma, 61-52, at the Jumpman Invitational on Tuesday.

Kelly’s 21-point outing came as the team wasn’t even sure she was going to play at all. According to head coach Courtney Banghart, Kelly was ill and had traveled to Charlotte separately so as not to infect any teammates. She clearly was feeling fine on the court, though, shooting 7-14 from the floor and playing 39 of 40 minutes.

Ustby wasn’t far behind, playing 35 minutes and recording a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Iowa State transfer Lexi Donarski added 10 points.

The Tar Heels had to fight uphill right from the start, falling behind 10-2 as Oklahoma’s breakneck pace had Carolina seeing double. UNC committed six turnovers in the first quarter alone and trailed 23-16. But the Tar Heels recovered in the second, as Kelly scored 11 of her 21 points in the period to tie the game at 36 going into halftime. Carolina shot 8-13 (61.5 percent) in the quarter, with the Sooners lagging at just 6-21 (28.6 percent).

Though UNC’s shooting trailed off in the third quarter at just 6-16 (37.5 percent), it was still enough to form a double-digit lead. The Sooners simply could not put the ball in the basket, scoring just four points on 2-19 (10.5 percent) shooting. It’s the fewest points Carolina has allowed in any quarter this season.

The fourth quarter brought more of the same, as Oklahoma shot 2-12, scored only 12 points and could not mount any semblance of a comeback. The Tar Heels led by as many as 14 points.

The win is UNC’s first over a high-major opponent this season, and improves the team to 8-4 going into conference play. The Tar Heels will take an extended break before that, as their next game isn’t until December 31, when Carolina hosts Clemson in Carmichael Arena.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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