Good thing basketball games aren't determined by the first half!
After a rough offensive outing over the first 20 minutes of play, North Carolina turned it up a notch in Blacksburg, finding a way to defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies in overtime.
Ice cold through 20 minutes
After a somewhat strong start from the field, North Carolina went absolutely cold.
In fact, after the 3:57 mark of the first quarter, the Tar Heels didn't score again until the 6:07 mark in the second quarter, a drought that saw them connect on just one of 18 shots from the floor.
Fortunately, Virginia Tech couldn't pull away, leaving room for the Tar Heels to creep back into the mix.
A much stronger second half
Following a seven point second quarter, whatever Courtney Banghart said in the locker room at half time seemed to work wonders.
The Tar Heels outscored Virginia Tech 36-29 over the final 20 minutes of regulation, which was enough to send the game into overtime. Some clutch baskets from Lanie Grant down the stretch made overtime possible, as it felt the momentum was in UNC's favor heading into the extra period.
A back-and-forth affair, North Carolina held a three-point advantage, as Lanie Grant's free throws with less than 30 seconds remaining ultimately sealed the deal for the comeback victory.
The Standouts
Four Tar Heels scored in double-figures, including Nyla Harris, who finished one rebound shy of another double-double (15 points, 9 rebounds). Elina Aarnisalo contributed 13 while Grant, who returned to her home state for this game, had 12 points of her own. Indya Nivar rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points of her own.
What's Next?
North Carolina heads into the final week of the regular season (which is crazy to think!) with three games remaining on the slate.
First, Pittsburgh comes to Chapel Hill for a Sunday afternoon clash. The Tar Heels will return to Virginia to take on the Cavaliers on Thursday night before returning home on March 1 for 'Senior Night' against rival Duke.
This was a big win for the Tar Heels, one that they hope will help build momentum as the final leg of the regular season draws near.