The first meeting between the UNC women's basketball program and rival Duke felt like multiple different games on the same night.
Fortunately, the final score ended in favor of the Tar Heels on Thursday night at Carmichael Arena.
The better blue comes out on top! pic.twitter.com/A1GWYaWhAx
— Keeping It Heel (@KeepingItHeel) January 10, 2025
The No. 19-ranked Tar Heels defeated the No. 14-ranked Blue Devils by a score of 53-46. Four quarters wasn't enough to settle this one as both teams battled into an overtime period.
Neither team got off to a hot start. In fact, it felt as if the basket was covered in saran warp, making it impossible for both teams to score.
At the half, the score was tied... at 16 a piece.
Yes, the two top 25 ranked squads combined for just 32 first-half points. Great defensive effort!
North Carolina started the second half on a tremendous note, riding a 16-0 run to give them some separation. Duke took over eight minutes to score their first bucket of the second half, but once that basket went in, the Blue Devils stormed back.
Duke took a 10-0 run into the start of the fourth quarter, and from that point on, a back-and-forth battle once again ensued. The Blue Devils tied the game with a pair of free throws with 42 seconds remaining, as neither team could capitalize on their final possession of regulation.
Blanca Thomas, a true freshman, stepped up in a big spot, knocking down some clutch free throws at the beginning of overtime. Thomas was thrown into the fire due to Maria Gakdeng's foul trouble, playing some huge minutes for the Tar Heels throughout the game.
With the score tied at 43, Lexi Donarski drained a three pointer with 1:13 remaining, her lone basket of the night. While it's the only time she connected (which is very uncharacteristic of her), her bucket couldn't have come at a better time for the UNC women's basketball program.
Donarski's basket put the Tar Heels up for good, securing the rivalry victory over Duke on their home floor.
It wasn't pretty by any means. Let's face it: both teams shot under 32% from the floor. Turnovers were also a major issue on both ends, as North Carolina coughed the ball up 26 times.
While it wasn't pretty, no one will complain given the UNC women's basketball program won the game.
As always, it's a GDTBATH. It's even better when the day ends with a win over the school from down the road.