UNC Women's Basketball opens up ACC play with top-25 clash against Georgia Tech

Courtney Banghart and the UNC women's basketball program open up ACC play with a top-25 clash against Georgia Tech on Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill.

While conference play doesn't get into full swing until the new year, the Tar Heels will certainly welcome the early test from the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech has been one of the more surprising teams early on this season, as their young roster has been very impressive throughout the first 10 games of the 2024-2025 season.

Can North Carolina find a way to continue its hot start while picking up a quality win in the process?

2024-2025 Season

No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels

Overall Record: 10-1
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 6-0
Away Record: 1-0
Neutral Site Record: 3-1

No. 25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Overall Record: 10-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 7-0
Away Record: 1-1
Neutral Site Record: 2-0

Key Players (with 2024-2025 stats)

North Carolina

Alyssa Ustby (Gr. Forward)- 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Lexi Donarski (Gr. Guard)- 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Indya Nivar (Jr. Guard)- 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Georgia Tech

Dani Carnegie (Fr. Guard) 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Kara Dunn (Jr. Guard)- 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Tonie Morgan (Jr. Guard)- 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists

History

North Carolina leads the all-time series against Georgia Tech, 62-21. The Tar Heels have had much recent success against the Yellow Jackets, winning seven of the last ten meetings (along with the past two).

This is the fifth time in program history that UNC is set to face off against a ranked Georgia Tech team. North Carolina last won over a ranked Yellow Jacket squad in 2010 against the then No. 20th-ranked Georgia Tech squad, 89-78, from Carmichael Arena.

The UNC women's basketball program holds a 29-7 record against Georgia Tech in games played at Carmichael Arena.

Keys to Victory for North Carolina

This is a battle of youth vs. experience.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have just two seniors on their roster, one that mostly consists of a mix of underclassmen. For the UNC women's basketball program, experience is the key, as three of the team's starters are either true seniors or fifth-year student-athletes.

While you can look at Georgia Tech's early schedule and say they really haven't been battle tested, that will change on Sunday when they make the trip to Chapel Hill.

For North Carolina, it's simple: continue doing the things that have made you successful early on this season.

Those things are good ball movement offensively and lockdown defensive efforts.

If the Tar Heels can continue to spread the wealth on the offensive side of the ball while also continue their stellar play on the defensive side, this group will be tough to beat.

Something to Watch For

Dani Carnegie has burst onto the scene during her freshman season, scoring in double-figures in 9 of her first 10 collegiate games. Carnegie is putting up these numbers while playing limited minutes, as she's only played more than 30 minutes twice so far this season.

Given this game is expected to be a close one, Carnegie might be called upon to log more minutes than normal. For North Carolina, how will they choose to try and slow down the Yellow Jackets best scoring threat?

In all likelihood, Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar will have their opportunities to guard the 5-foot-9 guard, but don't be surprised if the Tar Heels throw different looks her way in an effort to get her off her game.

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)