A stat-stuffing effort from senior Alyssa Ustby helped the UNC women’s basketball team cruise past Elon 68-39 at Carmichael Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Ustby proved dominant all around against the Phoenix, leading Carolina in both points (16 on 8-14 shooting) and rebounds (11), while also posting three blocks, three steals and two assists. It’s her second double-double of the season.

Ustby and Maria Gakdeng (13 points on 6-10 shooting) were the only Tar Heels shoot above 50 percent on at least five attempts, as the UNC offense once again struggled to shoot efficiently. Carolina’s 27-67 (40.3 percent) afternoon means the team still has not shot higher than 50 percent as a team this season. The Tar Heels are shooting 41.2 percent from the floor and 30.1 percent on three-pointers through four games.

On a positive note, the UNC defense held its opponent to below 40 percent shooting for the fourth consecutive time this season. The Phoenix struggled to just a 30.4 percent clip on the day, including a rancid 1-12 mark (8.3 percent) in the fourth quarter, when the team scored just five points. Elon scored 16 points total in the second half.

The game also saw head coach Courtney Banghart change her starting lineup for the first time this season: sophomore guard Paulina Paris started in the backcourt instead of freshman Reniya Kelly, who started the first three games. Unfortunately for Paris, she ended with zero points in 20 minutes. Kelly scored four off the bench.

Up next for the Tar Heels is the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, FL, an eight-team tournament featuring Caitlin Clark and last season’s national runners-up Iowa on the other side of the bracket. Carolina will take on Vermont in the tournament opener on Friday at 1:30 p.m. with the winner of that game taking on the winner of Kansas State and Western Kentucky the next day.

 

Featured image via UNC Women’s Basketball on Twitter

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