It was SO good to see Reniya Kelly looking like her vintage self on Thursday night in Chapel Hill!
After dealing with injuries over the last few months, Kelly simply hasn't looked like herself for most of the 2025-2026 season. However, Thursday night was a whole different story, as the junior guard put together an outstanding performance to lead the UNC women's basketball program to a much-needed victory over the visiting Miami Hurricanes.
Even though Miami's star center Ra Shaya Kyle didn't make the trip, the Hurricanes made it a battle for the Tar Heels, especially early on. The difference came in the third quarter, one where the UNC women's basketball program scored 24 points, doubling the Hurricanes' scoring output over the 10-minute period.
That offensive spark proved to be the different.
Reniya was on fire!
When Kelly is knocking down mid-range jumpers, you know she's feeling good!
The Hoover, Alabama native knocked down plenty of shots in this game, finishing the night with a career-high 24 points. She connected on 9 of her 14 shots from the floor, including four of her five attempts from beyond-the-arc, and also added six rebounds in the winning effort.
Indya Nivar turns it up in the second half
After going scoreless in the first half, Indya Nivar found a groove over the final 20 minutes of action. She scored 13 points in the second half, a much-needed scoring boost for the Tar Heels as they pulled away.
How about Taissa Queiroz!
Taissa Queiroz provided strong minutes off the bench, tallying 10 points and six rebounds over 17 minutes of action. The Tar Heels could use much more of that from Queiroz, a player who is versatile and has the ability to impact the game even if she isn't scoring the basketball.
A much-needed victory
After back-to-back losses to Stanford and Notre Dame, the UNC women's basketball program desperately needed this one. Looking to build some momentum, the Tar Heels hit the road for a two-game road trip, as their first stop takes them to Tallahassee, Florida for a Sunday afternoon clash with the Florida State Seminoles.