North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart hugs senior guard Taylor Koenen after fouling out of game against Wake Forest with 5:37 left in the fourth period in the first round of the ACC Women’s Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2020. WFU defeated UNC 83-73.
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North Carolina Women’s Basketball Falls Short in First Round of ACC Tournament

Landon Bost

GREENSBORO – The Wake Forest Demon Deacons Women’s Basketball team led the North Carolina Tar Heels 37-35 at halftime in the first round of the ACC Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum.

UNC led by one point, 56-55, with 1:25 left in the third period. In the same fashion of their season, Wake Forest went on a 24-to-6 run until midway through the fourth period and they defeated UNC 83-73.

“We know the margin of error gets smaller as the game wears on,” said North Carolina first-year head coach Courtney Banghart. “You need to hopefully make shots and use the energy it takes. They spread us out and made shots. And they scored 32 in second-chance points, 20 offensive rebounds.

” … We have struggled all year to understand the importance of a blockout. We’re second to last in the conference in that area, and again, today.”

If the tournament started 30 days ago, North Carolina would’ve had the No. 4 seed and a double-bye instead of playing in the first game of the tournament. UNC lost eight-straight (16-14, 7-11 ACC) to end their 2019-20 season.

“The difference was our 3-point percentage,” said North Carolina senior guard Shayla Bennett. “It went down, and like (Banghart) said, hats off to (Ivana) Raca. She gave us trouble in the first half and second half. But like Taylor (Koenen) said, I’m proud of our fight. We never gave up and we played through all forty minutes of the game.”

Senior guards Bennett and Koenen led North Carolina in scoring with 26 and 19 points. Senior guard Madinah Muhammad rounded out Carolina’s double-figure scorers with 13 points

Wake Forest (15-15, 7-11 ACC ) had four players in double-figures and junior forward Ivana Raca was the game’s leading scorer with 27 points.

What’s Next

The Demon Deacons play the Virginia Tech Hokies (21-8, 11-7 ACC) in the second round tomorrow, Mar. 5, at 11 a.m.

Banghart finished her first season with a beaten and bruised team. UNC Blue Ribbon All-ACC First-Team Junior forward Janelle Bailey has been on a minute-restriction before missing the last three games of the regular season. Bailey is a Lisa Leslie Award Finalist, awarded to the best center in the nation, and willed her way to play today for her senior teammates.

“I have a huge roster change over at the end of the season,” Banghart said, “because we’re not just losing (Bennett and Koenen) we’re losing a bunch of guys. We will regroup as a staff, and relook at our roster and figure out the best way to play in their strengths.

“In terms of the immediate reflection, my affinity to the University of North Carolina and the appreciation I have for its love for basketball. And I’m really proud and humbled. And like I said, I’m more driven than ever to come back (to the tournament), and be here, so that you’re tired of hearing my voice after every game.”

(Feature image courtesy of Landon Bost)