Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Women’s Basketball takes on Vermont in Gulf Coast Showcase

By Nick Delahanty

Mar 3, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart watches play during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Courtney Banghart watches play during the first half at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Courtney Banghart and the UNC women’s basketball program get the Gulf Coast Showcase underway with a matchup against 3-1 Vermont.

It’s game day for the UNC women’s basketball program as they kick off the Gulf Coast Showcase this afternoon against the Vermont Catamounts.

The Gulf Coast Showcase field is a competitive one, as the Tar Heels will likely see three quality opponents over the next three days. Vermont is the first opponent on that slate, as they come in with a 3-1 record on the early season.

Other than a scare from Davidson, the Tar Heels have taken care of their other three opponents early on this season. Of course, all those games came at Carmichael Arena, so it will be interesting to see not only how this team performs on a neutral site but also how they handle playing back-to-back-to-back days.

The good thing is that this year’s squad possesses a lot of depth, so Courtney Banghart will be able to utilize that in order to keep everyone as fresh as possible.

In order to watch this weekend’s action, you must subscribe to FloHoops (yes, it’s a pain that we even have to pay for a streaming service to watch these games!). However, if you’re like us, you will be subscribing in order to see the Tar Heels in action over the weekend!

Game Information

UNC Women’s Basketball (4-0) vs. Vermont Catamounts (3-1)
Friday, November 24, 2023
Hertz Arena, Estero, Florida
Tip-off: 1:30 PM EST
TV: ACCNX

Key to Victory for North Carolina

Vermont has struggled in two areas this season: three-point and free-throw shooting.

The Catamounts are a squad that plays a lot of players, but they haven’t been able to get going in those particular areas.

It is critical that Friday afternoon isn’t the game that they just happen to “click” like we’ve seen some other teams do against the Tar Heels.

For the UNC women’s basketball program, getting to the free throw line is an advantage they should have, as Vermont is not a squad that typically draws a lot of fouls. Getting to the line and capitalizing on those opportunities will be huge, as that area might essentially be the difference in this contest.

Something to Watch For

It will be the battle of star guards, as Deja Kelly and Emma Utterback should be the featured matchup in this contest.

Utterback is the heart of Vermont’s offensive attack, as she leads the Catamounts in points (15.8) and assists (5.8). Lexi Donarski might draw the defensive assignment on Utterback, but it is also very possible that Kelly could be matched up against the talented senior as well.

If North Carolina can slow Utterback down, it will truly give them a major advantage as they look to advance to the semi-finals of the event.

Projected Starters

No. 1 Alyssa Ustby (Sr. 6-1)
No. 2 Paulina Paris (So. 5-9)
No. 5 Maria Gakdeng (Jr. 6-3)
No. 20 Lexi Donarski (Gr. 6-0)
No. 25 Deja Kelly (Sr. 5-8)

Home/UNC Womens Basketball