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UNC Women’s Basketball: The senior who does it all

By Nick Delahanty

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA - JANUARY 12: Alyssa Ustby #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels handles the ball against Kaydan Lawson #14 of 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: Alyssa Ustby #1 of the North Carolina Tar Heels handles the ball against Kaydan Lawson #14 of 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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Our UNC women’s basketball player previews continue with Alyssa Ustby, a senior who does just about everything for the Tar Heels.

The UNC women’s basketball program’s current senior class deserves a lot of credit for where the program currently stands.

Growing as a program under the direction of head coach Courtney Banghart, the seniors have been around through thick and thin. One of the players who has made a major difference is Alyssa Ustby, a forward from Rochester, Minnesota.

Essentially a starter since she arrived on campus, Ustby has been a mainstay in the UNC women’s basketball program’s rotation. She is a player that coaches love to have, as she is, as Banghart calls her, “relentless,” willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed.

What should we expect from Ustby in what could be her final go-around in Chapel Hill?

2022-2023 Season In Review

As a junior, Ustby started all 28 games she appeared in, as she missed a handful of games due to injury. When she wasn’t on the court, the Tar Heels truly missed her presence, as they weren’t able to replicate all the things that Ustby does on a consistent basis.

Ustby was the Tar Heels’ leading rebounder, averaging 8.3 per game, while her 13.2 points were the third-highest on the team. She finished the season in the top 10 among ACC qualifiers in field goal percentage (third), rebounding (fourth), blocks (ninth), and steals (10th).

She finished the season with seven double-doubles, giving her 22 for her career thus far. The highlight of her season came on her birthday, as she scored her 1,000th career point in the Tar Heels’ NCAA Tournament victory over St. John’s.

What to Expect in 2023-2024

You can expect Alyssa Ustby to do Alyssa Ustby-type things during her senior season.

Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels hope that Ustby can stay healthy, as she’s a major part of this year’s squad. Her role will change a bit this year, as new additions will allow her to play more at the “three” this season, but that shouldn’t change the type of production that she should put together.

In fact, expect Ustby to continue filling up the stat sheet, as she’ll continue to make winning plays.

Bold Prediction

If you can find one “knock” on Ustby’s game, shooting the ball from deep mid-range/three-point shooting would be it.

Although she hasn’t taken many three-point shots, expect her to get more open looks this season. Ustby worked hard throughout the offseason to improve in this area, and if she can connect on 35-40% of her attempts, it will force teams to respect her shot, providing her with better opportunities to drive to the basket, something she’s done very well during her time with the UNC women’s basketball program.

Next. Don't forget about Anya Poole!. dark

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