Deja Kelly's hot stretch continues as UNC women's basketball defeats Georgia Tech

Deja Kelly was once again the star for the UNC women's basketball program, as her outstanding performance led the Tar Heels to a true road victory over Georgia Tech on Thursday night.

Kelly was the only Tar Heel to get going early, as she scored the first 9 North Carolina points. It took over eight minutes of game action for any other UNC women's basketball player to score, as it was the senior guard who took the lead in getting her team going offensively.

In a game that felt like North Carolina was set to pull away, it was multiple offensive droughts by the Tar Heels that gave the Yellow Jackets an opportunity to stay in the game. Up by as many as 10 points in the first half, the Tar Heels entered the locker room only leading by two, as you felt as if this group should be up much more than that heading into the break.

The Tar Heels started to pull away once again in the third quarter, as they shot 60% from the floor over the first 10 minutes of the second half. A Teonni Key steal and score gave the Tar Heels their biggest lead of the night with just under 9 minutes to play.

Unfortunately, another offensive drought was on the horizon, as Georgia Tech once again crept back in.

Up five with 20 seconds to play, it appeared that the UNC women's basketball program had the game in hand. However, Reniya Kelly fouled Ines Noguero on a three-point field goal, giving the Yellow Jackets a chance to cut the lead to just two.

Fortunately, Deja Kelly would seal the game with some clutch free throws, sending North Carolina home with a much-needed ACC victory.

Along with her game-high 27 points, Deja Kelly did a little bit of everything for the Tar Heels. She finished with five rebounds and four assists, and connected on 10 of her 12 attempts at the free throw line, a very encouraging sign given her unusual struggles at the line this season.

Alyssa Ustby scored 15 points of her own, while Key provided some great minutes off the bench, finishing with a season-high 10 points.

The UNC women's basketball program will now return to Chapel Hill as they prepare to host No. 13-ranked Louisville at Carmichael Arena on Sunday afternoon.