SMU scored the first basket of the game, but that was the only lead they would hold in their meeting with the UNC women's basketball program.
Courtney Banghart and the Tar Heels dominated the Mustangs on their home floor on Thursday night, picking up their third consecutive victory.
Defense has been an emphasis for this team, and it was very much on display in this game. SMU failed to score double-digit points in each of the first three quarters, as their leading scorer, Nya Robertson (who came in averaging 20.9 points per-game), was held to just five points on 1-19 shooting from the floor.
As we've seen so much this season, the Tar Heels earned contributions from a variety of players. Indya Nivar, who was celebrating her 21st birthday on Thursday, scored 9 first-half points to help the Tar Heels pull away.
Lexi Donarski was outstanding, knocking down five three-pointers en route to a game-high 15 points. Alyssa Ustby was cleaning up the boards, tallying 18 rebounds in another double-double effort, while Maria Gakdeng once again scored in double-figures.
This game wasn't much of a contest as North Carolina welcomed its new ACC foe to the conference by beating them by 31 on their home floor. While the UNC women's basketball program will be very satisfied with the win, they will look to continue their current three-game winning streak as their focus shifts to their trip to Pittsburgh for a Sunday afternoon clash.