Courtney Banghart and the UNC women's basketball program head to Dallas, Texas for a showdown with the SMU Mustangs on Thursday night.
North Carolina, the No. 14-ranked team in the country, will take on SMU for the first time as ACC foes. This game marks the start of a two-game road trip for the Tar Heels, one that will conclude on Sunday at Pittsburgh.
Winners of four of their last five games, including the previous two contests, the Tar Heels hope to continue building momentum in ACC play. While the Mustangs' record isn't going to stand out, this is not a game that the Tar Heels can look past, as it will be a tough battle in Texas on Thursday evening.
2024-2025 Season
North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall record: 15-3
Conference Record: 3-2
Home Record: 9-2
Away Record: 2-0
Neutral Site Record: 4-1
SMU Mustangs
Overall record: 10-7
Conference Record: 2-3
Home Record: 7-2
Away Record: 2-4
Neutral Site Record: 1-1
Key Players
North Carolina
Alyssa Ustby (Gr. Guard/Forward) – 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Maria Gakdeng (Sr. Forward/Center) – 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks
Lexi Donarski (Gr. Guard) – 8.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
SMU
Nya Robertson (Jr. Guard) – 20.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals
Chantae Embry (Sr. Forward) – 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Jessica Peterson (Sr. Center) – 9.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks
Keys to Victory for North Carolina
Win the battle of the glass.
Jessica Peterson is one of the best rebounders in the conference, averaging 12.1 board per game. It is vital that the Tar Heels use their strength in the front court to their advantage, finding ways to keep Peterson off the boards while winning the battle in the post.
Maria Gakdeng needs to stay out of foul trouble. Even though the Tar Heels possess a good amount of front court depth, North Carolina is a much better team when she's on the floor and doing Maria Gakdeng-like things in the post.
Something to Watch for
Following her 14-point outing against Boston College, sophomore guard Reniya Kelly has now scored in double-figures four times this season.
In those games, the Tar Heels are 3-1.
Since December 18, Kelly has taken on more of the scoring load, scoring at least eight points in four of the UNC women's basketball program's five contest since. As the Tar Heels look to take their game to another level, it looks like Kelly, who has served as the driver for the team's offensive attack, is set to take her game to another level as the season progresses.
Projected Starters
No. 1 Alyssa Ustby (Gr. 6'1)
No. 5 Maria Gakdeng (Sr. 6'3)
No. 10 Reniya Kelly (So. 5'7)
No. 20 Lexi Donarski (Gr. 6'0)
No. 24 Indya Nivar (Jr. 5'10)