UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ season ends in Sweet 16 loss to Gamecocks
The UNC basketball program’s season ends at the hands of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Sweet 16.
Final. 61. 441. 69. 533
The North Carolina women’s basketball program gave everything it had on Friday night but fell to the No. 1-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks by a final score of 69-61 in the Sweet 16.
The Tar Heels, 25-7, were led by Deja Kelly, who put together an absolutely sensational performance with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. She hit 9-of-18 shots for the game, 1-of-2 from three-point range, and 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
Only one other Tar Heel, Alexandra Zelaya, scored in double-digits. She had 10 points on a 4-for-6 shooting night off the UNC bench. North Carolina hit 46.2 percent (24-for-52) of its shots from the floor, 27.3 percent (3-for-11) beyond the arc, and 62.5 percent (10-for-16) at the foul line.
South Carolina got an outstanding 28-point, 22-rebound performance out of first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year Aliyah Boston. It marked her 27th consecutive double-double and her contributions simply proved to be too much for the Tar Heels to overcome, particularly her 12 offensive boards. The Gamecocks, 32-2, will press on to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.
The Tar Heels return a lot of talent next year and welcome some in, too. And, of course, leading scorer Deja Kelly will be back to lead the Tar Heels in their bid for their first Final Four since 2007.
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