Keeping It Heel
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UNC Women’s Basketball closes home stand with victory over Elon

By Nick Delahanty

Mar 4, 2022; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Alyssa Ustby (1) shoots a jumper over Virginia Tech Hokies forward D'asia Gregg (11) during the first quarter at Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2022; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Alyssa Ustby (1) shoots a jumper over Virginia Tech Hokies forward D'asia Gregg (11) during the first quarter at Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program capped off a four-game home stand by defeating Elon on Saturday afternoon.

Charlotte Smith is a UNC women’s basketball legend.

Anytime Smith returns to Carmichael Arena, it is a treat, but this time, she was an opponent in the place she called home for her collegiate career.

Smith and her Elon Phoenix arrived in Chapel Hill to take on Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program on Saturday afternoon. Although the Phoenix were coming off a brutal blowout loss to NC State, it was certain that Smith’s team would be ready to play at their coach’s alma mater.

Elon kept it close through for nearly the entire first half, but North Carolina was able to pull away for a 68-39 victory to cap off a four-game home stand.

North Carolina made life difficult for Elon offensively, holding them to just 30.4% shooting from the floor (including making just one of 14 three-point attempts).

After struggling in the victory over Hampton on Wednesday morning, senior forward Alyssa Ustby was back to her dominant self. Ustby finished the game with another double-double, as she led all scorers with 16 points while hauling in 11 rebounds. Maria Gakdeng (13 points) continues to be a force in the paint for North Carolina, while Deja Kelly (13 points) also helped pace the offensive attack.

Banghart did make a starting lineup switch, as Paulina Paris was inserted into the starting unit. The sophomore guard struggled, as she missed all five of her shot attempts from the floor, but it’s something that the Tar Heels coaching staff will continue to experiment with in order to find the right mix.

Regardless of whether she stays in the starting lineup or not, Paris will certainly be a major part of that equation.

The UNC women’s basketball program will now hit the road for Estero, Florida, to kick off the Gulf Coast Showcase on Friday afternoon against Vermont. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 PM EST.

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