NCAA Tournament: What should UNC expect from Stephen F. Austin?

The UNC women’s basketball program will face off with Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. What should the Tar Heels expect from their WAC opponent?

After a tremendous season, Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program have earned their highest NCAA Tournament seed since the 2013 season.

North Carolina has earned the No. 5 seed in the Greensboro region. They will match up with No. 12 ranked Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the tournament on Saturday in Tuscon, Arizona.

Unlike the men’s announcement, we didn’t have to wait long to hear where the women’s program was heading. The bid to the tournament also marks the first time that the program has earned berths in consecutive seasons since they earned three in a row from 2013 to 2015.

Now that we know who North Carolina will face, what should we expect from Stephen F. Austin?

Stephen F. Austin is part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The university is a newer member of the conference, as they joined on July 1, 2021.

The Ladyjacks are coming off a tremendous season in which they posted a 28-4 record. Under the direction of Mark Kellogg, Stephen F. Austin made a grand entrance into the league, as they not only won the regular-season title but the WAC Tournament as well.

With their automatic bid, Stephen F. Austin will look to upset a Tar Heels team that has had a standout season in their own merit. If the Ladyjacks look to advance to the second round, they will most likely rely heavily on their senior duo.

Throughout the regular season, Stephanie Visscher and Aiyana Johnson set the tone for Stephen F. Austin. Visscher (14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Johnson (14 points, 6.5 rebounds) were consistent contributors who played a major role in the team’s overall success.

Along with his senior leaders, Kellogg’s team has a lot of depth, as 9 players averaged 11 or more minutes per contest. The Ladyjacks may have a slight advantage, as they shoot the ball at a more efficient clip, but will have to try to get open shots against a Tar Heels team that ranked eighth in the nation in field-goal percentage defense.

The advantage for the UNC women’s basketball program comes on the boards, as the Tar Heels are one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Look for North Carolina to not only create second-chance opportunities but also look to limit the Ladyjacks’ offensive attack.

Overall, it’s been an exciting season for the UNC women’s basketball program. Let’s see if this group can make a deep run in this year’s NCAA Tournament bracket.

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