UNC ended the game on a 24-8 run to overcome a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter and defeat No. 12 seed Boston College 78-71 in the second round of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro Thursday afternoon.

The Tar Heels got off to a flying start, leading 11-0 early in the first quarter before Boston College called a timeout to stop the bleeding. After the stoppage, the Eagles settled in and began to do damage from long distance, making four of six three-point attempts in the first quarter to cut the UNC lead down to 18-14 by the end of the period.

UNC couldn’t pull away in the second quarter, shooting just 6-16 from the floor and turning the ball over four times. Still, the Tar Heels managed to increase their advantage to 36-30 by halftime after the Eagles missed all seven of their threes in the period.

After halftime, Boston College caught fire again, making all four of its threes in the third quarter to tie the game at 54-54 entering the fourth. The momentum continued in the final 10 minutes as the Eagles began the quarter 3-3 on threes, taking their largest lead of the game at 63-54 with 8:15 remaining and leaving the favored Tar Heels shell-shocked.

“I think their backs were against the wall,” head coach Courtney Banghart said of her team afterward. “This is a team that hasn’t been great against teams that on paper they’re better than over the last couple weeks. We just knew what we needed to do defensively.”

The game turned after an extended stoppage to review a potential flagrant offensive foul against UNC’s Alyssa Ustby, who started and played 25 minutes after missing the previous four games. Officials ruled the foul a common foul, not a flagrant, and the Tar Heels avoided further damage.

Following the timeout, UNC went on a 7-0 run before the Eagles made their eighth – and final – three of the second half. With the score now 66-61, the Tar Heels scored another 12 unanswered points, capped off by a three from Lexi Donarski. UNC led 73-66 with 1:44 remaining, and the Eagles wouldn’t get closer than four points for the rest of the game. Donarski made three free throws in the final seconds to put a bow on the comeback. She led all scorers with 20 points, while Ustby finished with 11 points and six rebounds.

“I’m feeling great,” Ustby said after the game. “There’s a sense of desperation and urgency, especially when you’re in March, because it’s win-or-go-home. I’ll do the things that I need to do to take care of my body, but I’m ready for another one.”

Sophomore guard Reniya Kelly dressed but did not play; she has now missed the last three contests.

“I think she’s waiting for her name to be called,” Banghart said of Kelly. “We’re going to take it day-by-day.”

The Tar Heels are now 26-6 overall, a record for wins in a single season under Banghart. UNC will face No. 4 seed Florida State in the ACC quarterfinals Friday at 11 a.m. in Greensboro.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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