Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Women’s Basketball hosts Virginia Tech in final home game

By Drew Garrett

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 12: Paulina Paris #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels handles the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 12, 2023 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 12: Paulina Paris #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels handles the ball against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 12, 2023 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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The No. 22-ranked UNC Women’s Basketball team is set to take on the No. 9 Virginia Tech Hokies in the final home game of the 2022-2023 season.

After a long regular season, North Carolina enters the final week of the season. However, these last two games will not be easy, as UNC is set to face two of the nation’s best in Virginia Tech and Duke.

Virginia Tech has been a tough opponent for UNC in recent memory. The Hokies have won three straight against the Tar Heels, including two thrilling wins in their last two meetings.

North Carolina will look to end that streak Thursday night.

UNC is coming off a big win against Wake Forest and is set to have star Alyssa Ustby return to the court. Thursday night’s game will also be senior night for the Tar Heels.

If North Carolina wants to get a win tomorrow night against Virginia Tech, here is what they will need to do.

Key to Victory

The Tar Heels need to rebound the basketball tomorrow against the Hokies.

In their best performances this season, Virginia Tech dominates the rebound battle. This helps them slow down the pace of the game to play their style of basketball.

This happened in the last meeting between these two teams, where the Hokies won the rebound battle against the Tar Heels, 38-29.

If North Carolina can outrebound Virginia Tech, they will make things uncomfortable for their opponent. UNC should look to grab offensive rebounds and push the ball in transition for easy buckets.

This will likely be a close game, so the Tar Heels must lock in on the details. If they can win the small battles like rebounding, they will set themselves up for victory.

Something to Watch

This week marks the end of the regular season for the UNC Women’s Basketball team. After contests vs. Virginia Tech and at Duke, the Tar Heels will enter the ACC tournament.

This week will have seeding implications for that tournament.

North Carolina is currently in sixth place in the conference. While it isn’t possible to secure the top seed, they have a chance to move up a few spots in the standings.

Florida State and Louisville are currently tied for fourth place and are one game ahead of UNC. A win against Virginia Tech and a loss between either of these teams would bump the Tar Heels up a spot.

Both teams play tomorrow night, as Louisville hosts Miami, and Florida State travels to play Wake Forest.

This is certainly something to monitor in the final week of conference play, as a higher seed could highly benefit North Carolina in the conference tournament.

Last Meeting

It was a heartbreaking loss for UNC in their last meeting vs. Virginia Tech. The Hokies pulled away in the final quarter, defeating the Tar Heels, 68-65.

Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore was dominant in this one, scoring a game-high 24 points. UNC star Deja Kelly was not far behind as she finished with 21.

Despite the loss, North Carolina still leads the all-time series between these two schools 21-14.

The Tar Heels hope that tomorrow night breaks the recent losing streak to the Hokies, as VT has won three straight.

Projected Starting Lineup

F-Anya Poole

G-Kennedy Todd- Williams

F-Alyssa Ustby

G-Deja Kelly

G-Kayla McPherson

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