Keeping It Heel
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"Tar Heel of the Game" for the UNC women's basketball program's win over Kentucky

This UNC women's basketball standout was on her game as the Tar Heels took down the No. 14-ranked team in the country.

By Nick Delahanty

Nov 25, 2024; Paradise Island, Bahamas, BHS; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Indya Nivar (24) celebrates with North Carolina Tar Heels guard Reniya Kelly (10) and North Carolina Tar Heels guard Lexi Donarski (20) during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nov 25, 2024; Paradise Island, Bahamas, BHS; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Indya Nivar (24) celebrates with North Carolina Tar Heels guard Reniya Kelly (10) and North Carolina Tar Heels guard Lexi Donarski (20) during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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The UNC women's basketball program made a major statement with their victory over No. 14-ranked Kentucky on Thursday night as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.

North Carolina led by as much as 15 in the first quarter and never looked back, securing a 19-point victory over the previously unbeaten Wildcats.

For this win, we have yet another first-time "Tar Heel of the Game" recipient, making it a staggering 9 different UNC women's basketball players who have taken home the award. Up to this point, we only have one repeat winner, showing how much depth this team has!

This game, the recipient shouldn't be surprised, especially given her performance in the fourth quarter to help close out the victory.

Reniya Kelly

Reniya Kelly was absolutely outstanding. The sophomore guard scored a game-high 18 points and dropped six assists as she guided the UNC women's basketball program to an important resume-building win.

While she played well throughout, Kelly stepped her game up in the fourth quarter. Kelly scored 12 points over the final 10 minutes of action, as she almost scored as many points as the Wildcats did as a team during the final quarter (12). What makes her performance even more impressive is how she knocked down all three of her three-point field goal attempts and connected on five of her six shots from the free-throw line.

Kelly has had some impressive outing in her young UNC women's basketball career, but night's like Thursday show why Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels coaching staff are so high on her potential. Maybe this will serve as Kelly's breakout performance, as we are all witnessed of what she's able to accomplish on a basketball court.

Tar Heel of the Game Recipients (2024-2025 Season)

Charleston Southern: Trayanna Crisp (1) and Blanca Thomas (1)
UNC Wilmington: Lexi Donarski (1)
North Carolina A&T: Laila Hull (1)
UConn: Indya Nivar (1)
Ball State (Battle 4 Atlantis Opener): Lanie Grant (1)
Villanova (Battle 4 Atlantis Quarterfinals): Alyssa Ustby (1)
Indiana (Battle 4 Atlantis Championship): Trayanna Crisp (2)
NC Central- Maria Gakdeng (1)
Kentucky (ACC/SEC Challenge): Reniya Kelly (1)

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