Feast Mode: UNC serves up a Thanksgiving blowout over South Dakota State

On Thanksgiving Day, the UNC women's basketball program had a feast before even sitting at the dinner table.

North Carolina left little doubt, controlling the game from the onset to defeat South Dakota State in blowout fashion in the opener of the Cancun Challenge.

Regarded as one of the best mid-major programs in the country, the Jackrabbits were expected to give the Tar Heels a run. However, Courtney Banghart's team wasn't having any of that nonsense, asserting their dominance from the opening tip.

The Tar Heels started the game on a 9-0 run and never took their foot off the gas. By the time half-time rolled around, North Carolina held a comfortable 18-point lead that they would just keep on building upon in the second half.

Nyla Brooks' insane first half

Nyla Brooks is one of the best freshmen in the country when it comes to scoring the basketball, and the first half on Thursday morning showed just how good she is at knocking down shots. The true freshman connected on four three-pointers in the first half and led the Tar Heels with 14 points at the break.

Indya Nivar makes history

Indya Nivar witnessed first-hand the first triple-double in UNC women's basketball history, accomplished by her former teammate Alyssa Ustby.

Now, the senior joins her former teammate on this illustrious list of players to accomplish the feat.

Nivar recorded her triple-double a little differently than Ustby did, using 10 steals to get the job done. She finished the game with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals, five assists, and two blocks in what is certainly her best outing as a Tar Heel up to this point.

Other notable performances

Elina Aarnisalo continues to play like an upperclassman, scoring 14 points while recording four assists in the win. Nyla Harris, who missed the Tar Heels' last game, was hampered by foul trouble in the first half but had a stellar second half, scoring 12 points in her limited action.

What's next for UNC?

The Cancun Challenge continues for the UNC women's basketball program on Friday when they take on Kansas State for another 11:00 AM EST tip-off. The Tar Heels will then battle Columbia on the final day of the three-day event on Saturday afternoon.