UNC Basketball: Hodgson, Kelly help Tar Heels get back on track

Following a disappointing game against the NC State Wolfpack, the UNC women’s basketball program got back on track with a victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The North Carolina Tar Heels didn’t let a disheartening blowout loss to the NC State Wolfpack carry over to their next game, as they came out on Sunday afternoon and absolutely dismantled the Virginia Tech Hokies, 71-46.

The Tar Heels were aided by double-digit scoring performances from three starters and a reserve. Eva Hodgson scored a game-high and season-high 19 points on the day, as she connected on 6-of-8 shots from the floor and 4-of-5 from three-point range. She also converted 3-of-4 at the free throw line and pulled down three rebounds.

Sophomore guard Deja Kelly struggled through a 4-for-15 shooting game, but did hit 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and all four of her free throws. She also recorded a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals. Although she didn’t lead her team in scoring as she did in three of the last four games and six overall this season, Kelly notched double-digits for the 15th consecutive time with her 15 points.

North Carolina got 13 points and six assists from Alyssa Ustby and 12 points and eight rebounds from Anya Poole, adding to a balanced scoring attack that saw six players score and combine to shoot nearly 44 percent for the game and from long-range. Although the Hokies outrebounded them by two for the game, the Tar Heels assisted on 14 of their 28 baskets and committed nine fewer turnovers.

Virginia Tech was led by junior center Elizabeth Kitley, who scored a team-high 14 points and pulled down a game-high 17 boards in the losing effort. Her team hit just 31 percent of their shots on the day (18-for-58) and 16.7 percent (4-for-24) of their three-point attempts. Add the 21 turnovers they committed to their obvious shooting futility on Sunday, and it’s easy to see why they lost to the Tar Heels in blowout fashion. They drop to 11-4 with the loss.

The Tar Heels, now 14-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play, will take the court again next Sunday when they face off with the No. 20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend.

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