UNC used runs of 18-0 and 26-0 to soar past Boston College 90-39 Monday night in its return from the holiday break. The win is Carolina’s first in ACC play this season.

The 18-0 run came after the Tar Heels had already built a sizable lead of 30-18 midway through the second quarter. Reniya Kelly scored seven points during the run, with Nyla Harris and Nyla Brooks each adding baskets to give UNC a 46-18 lead at halftime. Ciera Toomey scored the first points of the third quarter to cap off the run and give the Tar Heels a 30-point advantage.

The Carolina lead stood at 55-31 midway through the third when its second run began. This time, it was Elina Aarnisalo sparking the avalanche with a three-pointer and a pair of layups. Brooks, Taliyah Henderson, Blanca Thomas and Laila Hull would all pile on, with the freshman Brooks scoring seven consecutive points early in the fourth quarter. By the end of the run, which only took about eight minutes of game time across two periods, UNC’s 55-31 lead had ballooned to 81-31.

As a team, UNC shot 38-66 (57.6 percent) from the field, including a 30-41 (73.2 percent) mark on two-point shots. Harris led the way with a season-high 19 points on 9-11 shooting, while Brooks added 15 in 20 minutes off the bench. Of the 14 Tar Heels to play in Monday’s game, 10 found their way onto the score sheet. All played at least five minutes. On the other side, Boston College languished at 13-61 (21.3 percent) from the floor. It’s the lowest shooting percentage UNC has allowed this season.

The Tar Heels held decisive advantages in numerous categories. UNC outscored Boston College 52-14 in points in the paint, 42-27 in bench points, 18-6 in fast-break points and 22-11 in points off turnovers. The Tar Heels also outrebounded the Eagles 47-31 and won the assist battle 24-6.

The 51-point margin of victory is Carolina’s largest of the season, the second-largest in a road game in head coach Courtney Banghart’s seven-year tenure and the largest in her tenure in an ACC road game. Now 12-3 overall and 1-1 in ACC play, UNC will return home and host Cal on New Year’s Day at 12 p.m. in Carmichael Arena.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men's and Women's Teams Both Drop in Latest Rankings
The UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams each dropped spots in the latest AP Poll Monday after both suffered losses during the week. The men dropped five spots from No. 11 to No. 16, while the women dropped one spot from No. 21 to No. 22. The men’s team’s previous ranking of No. 11 had […]
Chansky's Notebook: Different Challenges
David Glenn compares the situations of the UNC men's and women's basketball teams as both enter the home stretch of the regular season.
UNC Women's Basketball Sees Win Streak Snapped at No. 11 Duke
No. 11 Duke used a 13-0 run to take a 41-33 lead into halftime Sunday in Durham, and UNC couldn’t quite dig out of that hole in a 72-68 loss. The defeat snaps Carolina’s eight-game winning streak. Prior to the Blue Devil run, the Tar Heels had led by as many as six points midway […]
UNC Women's Basketball at Duke (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC will look to extend its eight-game winning streak Sunday afternoon when it visits No. 11 Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils are on a tear of their own, having won 15 consecutive games. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those […]
Hot Start Helps UNC Women's Basketball Romp Past SMU
UNC shot better than 70 percent in the first quarter and finished well above 50 percent for the game in a 94-42 win against SMU at Carmichael Arena Thursday night. The 52-point margin of victory is Carolina’s largest ever in an ACC game, and it was also the 400th win in the career of head […]
Chansky's Notebook: Banghart's Breakthrough?
Courtney Banghart and UNC will need to be at their best in the home stretch of the regular season if they want to break through in the ACC.
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Rise to No. 11, Women Rise to No. 21
After the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams each picked up big wins last week, both squads have risen in the latest edition of the AP Poll. The men’s team rose three spots to No. 11, while the women’s team rose four spots to No. 21. For the men, No. 11 is the team’s highest […]
UNC Women's Basketball Cruises Past Wake Forest for 7th Straight Win
UNC used a 16-0 run in the first quarter to take control at Wake Forest Sunday afternoon and rolled from there to an 84-56 win against the Demon Deacons. It’s Carolina’s seventh win in a row and its 20th on the season. Keep it Rolling – 𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 Straight!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/17TBFQQo3p — Carolina Women's Basketball […]
UNC Women's Basketball Grinds Past Clemson to Win 6th Straight Game
UNC’s defense held Clemson without a made basket for the final 9:01 of Thursday’s game at Carmichael Arena, and the Tar Heels rode that lockdown performance to a 53-44 win against the Tigers. Tigers 𝙏𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿. Six straight wins!@WellsFargo x #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/MnAk9x3EC4 — Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) February 6, 2026 In a game where neither team […]
UNC Basketball in the AP Poll: Men Up to No. 14, Women Back in at No. 25
Both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams are ranked in the latest editions of the AP Poll, which were released Monday. The men (17-4, 5-3 ACC) rose two spots to No. 14, while the women (17-5, 6-3 ACC) are back in the poll at No. 25 after three consecutive weeks unranked. The men played […]
›