The UNC women's basketball program made a statement on Wednesday night, defeating the Florida Gators in the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Following a loss to Georgia Tech to kick off ACC play, one of the major storylines heading into the Jumpman Invitation was how the Tar Heels would respond. Well, they answered all those questions quite well, taking full control of the game right away.
North Carolina took a 16-point lead after one quarter of play, as a pair of three-pointers by Lanie Grant and a pair of baskets by Reniya Kelly helped distance the score.
By halftime, the Tar Heels led by 21, as the team shot a staggering 54.8% from the floor.
Florida wasn't going away, as a 14-0 run cut the deficit to as little as 13. However, North Carolina wasn't letting the Gators get any closer, putting together a 7-0 run of their own in response, a run that made the game feel like it was officially out of reach.
Maria Gakdeng once again put together a strong outing, leading the UNC women's basketball program with 14 points. She caused problems for Florida's leading scorer Ra Shaya Kyle, who dealt with foul trouble for most of the game.
Grant provided great minutes off the bench, finishing the game with 13 points. She also made a lot of good plays on the defensive end as well, as the spotlight of the Jumpman Invitational wasn't too bright at all for the 17-year-old freshman.
Alyssa Ustby had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in the win. In total, 12 Tar Heels scored, another example of just how good the ball movement has been this season.
The UNC women's basketball program will return home, as they'll host Norfolk State for their final non-conference game on December 21.