UNC Basketball: Tar Heel women upset No. 3 Louisville in thrilling fashion
The UNC women’s basketball team earned a thrilling 66-65 come-from-behind victory over the third-ranked Lousiville Cardinals on Thursday night.
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In one of women’s college basketball’s most exciting games of the season, the No. 24 North Carolina Tar Heels beat the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals by a score of 66-65 at Carmichael Arena.
It was a raucous Carolina blue-clad crowd in Chapel Hill — one that included former UNC men’s head basketball coach Roy Williams — that witnessed multiple lead changes in the final minute of the game that ultimately resulted in a thrilling come-from-behind victory for Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels, easily their most impressive of the season.
Kennedy Todd-Williams led the way for North Carolina with a game-high and career-high 19 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists. Deja Kelly added 18 points, four rebounds and three steals in a game-high 38 minutes of play. Kelly, who has scored at least 17 points in four consecutive outings, hit 6-of-12 shots for the game and 2-of-5 from three-point range.
So much 💕💕💕 for our Carolina fans and a special shout-out to our student section! You were amazing tonight! A big win is even more fun when you're there to share it with us 🙌#GoHeels x @CarolinaFever pic.twitter.com/B5LuUDSqrT
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) February 18, 2022
The Tar Heels only shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) for the game and 26.3 percent (5-of-19) beyond the arc. They did, however, convert 15-of-20 free throws, and outrebound the Cardinals by 10 (42-32). They only assisted on 12 of their 23 made buckets — junior reserve Eva Hodgson led the team with four — but came up with big play after big play when it mattered most in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
Lousiville, who entered the game with just two losses on the season, got double-digit points out of three starters. Hailey Van Lith had a team-best 17 points on a 7-for-13 shooting night. Olivia Cochran scored 14 on an efficient 5-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-5 at the foul line. Emily Engstler added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Cardinals, now 22-3 on the season and 13-2 in conference play.
North Carolina, now 20-5 on the season and 10-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, sits alone in sixth-place of the league standings with just three regular season games remaining. They’ll travel to Tallahassee on Sunday for a matchup with the 14-11 Florida State Seminoles.
Next. Tar Heels' NCAAT hopes hang by a thread. dark
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