UNC Basketball: Tar Heel women top Pittsburgh, earn 19th win of season

The UNC women’s basketball team topped Pittsburgh on Thursday night to earn their 19th win of the season and keep pace in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference.

The North Carolina Tar Heels welcomed the Pittsburgh Panthers to Carmichael Arena on Thursday night and captured their 19th victory of the season by a final score of 64-54. The Tar Heels, winners of three straight games and five of their last seven, earned their ninth conference win of the season and are in a fifth-place tie with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

North Carolina (19-4, 9-4), was led by Deja Kelly’s 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. She hit just 4-of-13 shots from the floor but knocked down all eight of her crucial free throw attempts. Junior guard Eva Hodgson came off the UNC bench to contribute 14 points and five rebounds, while sophomore starter Alyssa Ustby recorded her third straight double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The Tar Heels shot just 32.2 percent (19-for-59) overall and 31.6 percent (6-for-19) from three-point range. They were most effective from the free throw line where they converted 20-of-26 attempts. They assisted on 15 of their 19 field goals and outrebounded the Panthers by seven (43-36). They also committed six fewer turnovers and 14 fewer fouls.

Pittsburgh, 11-12 overall and 2-10 in conference play, got a game-high 18 points from Jayla Everett, who hit 7-of-19 shots from the floor and 4-of-5 beyond the arc. Amber Brown scored 14 points to go along with six rebounds, and Dayshanette Harris notched 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

North Carolina will be back on the court this Sunday afternoon when they travel to Blacksburg, Virginia to take on the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for coverage of the game, and everything on the UNC women’s basketball program.