UNC Women's Basketball ready a for top-25 clash with No. 2 ranked UConn

Courtney Banghart and the UNC women's basketball program have a big-time matchup in store for Friday night in Greensboro as they take on Geno Auriemma and the No. 2-ranked UConn Huskies in an early season top-25 duel.

This marks the second consecutive season that the two programs will meet, as last year's matchup took place in Uncasville, Connecticut. UConn went on to win that game, making it six consecutive contests that the Huskies have defeated the Tar Heels.

North Carolina is hoping that their losing streak against one of the powerhouses in women's college basketball ends on Friday night.

2024-2025 Season

North Carolina Tar Heels

Overall Record: 3-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 2-0
Away Record: 1-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0

UConn Huskies

Overall Record: 2-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Home Record: 2-0
Away Record: 0-0
Neutral Site Record: 0-0

Key Players (with 2024-2025 stats)

North Carolina

Lexi Donarski (Gr. Guard)- 15.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Alyssa Ustby (Gr. Forward)- 10.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Reniya Kelly (So. Guard)- 9.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists

UConn Huskies

Paige Bueckers (Gr. Guard)- 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Sarah Strong (Fr. Forward)- 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Ashlynn Shade (So. Guard)- 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists

History

UConn leads the head-to-head series over North Carolina (8-6).

The Huskies have won each of the last six meetings, including last year's battle in Uncasville, Conn. Behind 26 points from Paige Bueckers, the Lady Huskies defeated the Tar Heels by a score of 76-64.

North Carolina's last win in the series came during the 2006-2007 season on January 15, 2007. The Tar Heels won that matchup by a score of 82-76 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Keys to Victory for North Carolina

We know UConn is elite. They are No. 2 in the country for a reason.

However, the Huskies haven't been battle-tested yet.

They've won their first two games by an AVERAGE of 45 points, as the Huskies haven't needed to play a full game yet in terms of their main core of players.

Can the Tar Heels be that team to challenge them?

UConn will also play its first game away from Storrs, so the Tar Heels could have a slight advantage given that they already have a road game under their belt this season. For North Carolina, it will be vitally important for them to put the pressure on early, proving to UConn that it won't be an easy night for them.

While it would be nice for Alyssa Ustby to have a typical Alyssa Ustby type of performance, the Tar Heels need to rely on the balance scoring attack that has been working throughout the early portion of the season. Lexi Donarski should be the key factor in this one, as North Carolina must do anything they can to get her open space early to knock some shots from three-point range.

This team has the talent and the depth to keep up with UConn. The question will be: will this typically young group be ready for the challenge?

Something to Watch For

Maria Gakdeng missed the UNC women's basketball program's contest against North Carolina A&T on Tuesday night due to injury.

Gakdeng hasn't played since the first half of the Tar Heels win over UNC Wilmington last week. The hope is that Gakdeng will be able to go on Friday night, but if not, the Tar Heels will have to roll with their inexperienced options at the position.

Not to say that Ciera Toomey and Blanca Thomas can't handle the load, but it will be a tough task against a very good UConn team that features top-tier talent at every position.

Projected Starters

No. 1 Alyssa Ustby (Gr. 6'1)
No. 5 Maria Gakdeng (Sr. 6'3)
No. 10 Reniya Kelly (So. 5'7)
No. 14 Trayanna Crisp (Jr. 5'8)
No. 20 Lexi Donarski (Gr. 6'0)