UNC Women’s Basketball wins 2022 Phil Knight Invitational
The UNC women’s basketball program battled back from a 17-point deficit to defeat No.5 ranked Iowa State in the Phil Knight Invitational finals.
The Phil Knight Invitational championship was meaningful in many ways for the UNC women’s basketball program.
Before we even get into the game itself, this was the first time the Tar Heels was included in a battle between top-10 teams in over 9 years. It’s been long overdue for North Carolina to not only be ranked in the top 10 but to face off against another one of the country’s best programs.
The game proved one thing: the UNC women’s basketball program has one of the best teams in the entire country.
64. 461. 73. 441. Final
The first half didn’t go as planned for Courtney Banghart’s team, as they simply struggled shooting the basketball. Only three players scored over the first 20 minutes, as they connected on just 21 percent of their shot attempts.
However, no deficit is too big for this group to overcome, as a strong second half propelled them to a championship game victory in Portland, Oregon.
North Carolina shot the lights out in the third quarter, connecting on 66.7 percent of its shot attempts. After not scoring in the first half, Kennedy Todd-Williams got going offensively, which was a huge boost for a Tar Heels team that was down by as many as 17.
When it mattered most, the Tar Heels delivered, as they went on a 23-3 run to give them a 59-53 lead with just five minutes remaining in the game.
As much as the Cyclones pushed to regain the lead, the Tar Heels didn’t budge. Especially down the stretch, North Carolina made it difficult for Iowa State to even inbound the ball, as three consecutive steals helped secure the victory.
Deja Kelly, who scored just seven first-half points, emerged for 22 in the second half en route to a game-high 29 points. She also ended up being named the Most Valuable Player of this year’s Phil Knight Invitational event.
Alyssa Ustby did Alyssa Ustby-type things, as she scored 14 points and hauled in 9 rebounds. Todd-Williams went off in the second half, scoring 17 much-needed points. Once she got going, the rest of the team seemed to follow suit.
This was a team effort for sure, as they battled together for this hard-fought come-from-behind victory. You have to give credit to Banghart and her team, they have a ton of grit!
The win caps up a major weekend for the UNC women’s basketball program, as they defeated two top-25 ranked teams in Oregon and Iowa State. Their next challenge will be just as tough, as they will take on the currently ranked No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
If you haven’t bought stock in Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program yet, we suggest you get on it!
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