Urgency.
That was the word head coach Courtney Banghart used multiple times during her halftime interview. The first was to answer why her team struggled in the second quarter, while the second was to describe the key to the second half for her team.
Well, it's safe to say the UNC women's basketball program heard their coach's message loud and clear.
In front of the home crowd at Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels put together a strong second-half effort to pull away from the visiting Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The win gives the Tar Heels their fifth consecutive victory and No. 18 on the season.
The first quarter was controlled by North Carolina, as the Tar Heels outscored the Demon Deacons 22-6 over the first 10 minutes of play. Lexi Donarski continued her hot shooting stretch, knocking down each of her three attempts from beyond-the-arc during the first quarter.
While it seemed like the game was already out of reach, Wake Forest had other plans.
The Demon Deacons responded with a strong quarter of play of their own, outscoring the Tar Heels 22-10 during the period to cut the home team's lead to just four heading into the half.
This is where "urgency" comes into play.
The lack of urgency in the second quarter was something Banghart wasn't pleased about, as she encouraged her team to play with a better sense of urgency in the second half. Her team responded nicely, outscoring Wake Forest 44-23 during the second half.
Donarski was stellar once again, finishing with a team-high 17 points. Grace Townsend was outstanding off the bench, knocking down each of her five shot attempts for a 13-point outing. Lanie Grant continues to provide a spark off the bench, as she was the third of three Tar Heels to score in double-figures.
It was one of those team efforts we've seen often from this group, as 11 of the 12 players who took the court scored in this contest. It goes to show that this team is full of depth and is a squad who has multiple players who can make major impacts on any given night.
That sense of urgency Banghart talked about surely kicked in, as the UNC women's basketball program looks to play with that same energy they showcased in the second half on Thursday night when they host Florida State on Sunday afternoon for another important ACC clash.