A season-high 22 points from Lexi Donarski helped the UNC women’s basketball team snap its three-game losing streak on Wednesday, as the Tar Heels defeated UNC-Greensboro 81-66 at Carmichael Arena.

Donarski shot a sizzling 7-9 from the floor and 6-8 on three-pointers, lifting Carolina to its best shooting night this season. But the Iowa State transfer was just one of six Tar Heels to reach double figures, as Alyssa Ustby (13), Deja Kelly (12), Maria Gakdeng (12), Indya Nivar (11) and Anya Poole (11) all joined in the scoring fun. Nivar was making her second start of the season for the shorthanded Tar Heels, who were without the services of both Kayla McPherson and Paulina Paris due to undisclosed injuries.

The UNC offense hummed right along without the two guards, as Carolina burst out of the gate by shooting 50 percent in the first quarter and 78 percent in the second. The Tar Heels led 22-9 after 10 minutes, but the Spartans stormed back to within two at halftime on the strength of a perfect second quarter from downtown. UNC-Greensboro tickled the twine at 5-5 on three-pointers in the period and outscored Carolina 25-14.

UNC moved the lead back to as large as 12 in the third quarter, but couldn’t quite put the Spartans away until the fourth, as back-to-back threes from Donarski and Nivar pushed the lead to 15 points late in the period.

Carolina’s final shooting tally of 33-64 (51.6 percent) is its most efficient of the season. The Tar Heels had only shot above 50 percent once in the season’s previous eight games, and shot a season-low 31.3 percent in last Thursday’s loss to No. 1 South Carolina.

Speaking of ranked foes, that’s exactly what the Tar Heels will face in their next game, as Carolina will take a trip up north to play No. 17 UConn in the Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, CT on Sunday. The game tips off at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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