Deja Kelly Lifts No. 24 UNC over FSU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sophomore guard Deja Kelly scored 26 points propelling the No. 24 UNC Tar Heels over Florida State 64-49 in the Donald L. Tucker Center.

Kelly was scorching hot in the first half, scoring 14 of her 26 before the break on just 6-of-10 shooting. Kelly has been the Tar Heels’ go-to scorer all season long leading the team in scoring averaging 16 points a game.

Coming into this matchup, UNC had lost its previous six games against the Seminoles.

The Tar Heels (21-5, 11-5 ACC) got out to a quick 11-5 lead in the first following some pick and roll action between Kelly and Sophomore Alyssa Ustby. Ubstby would finish with 12 points and 10 boards.

Florida State (14-12, 8-8 ACC) would respond by ending out the quarter on a 9-2 run following buckets from forward Valencia Myers. Myers was crucial in the first half for the Seminoles, ending the contest with eight points and 11 rebounds.

UNC would keep the game close throughout the second quarter as they scored eight points off second-chance opportunities. Sophomore forward Anya Poole grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds leading to second-chance buckets for the Tar Heels. UNC led Florida State 25-22 heading into the half.

Coming out the halftime break Seminoles guard Morgan Jones scored six early points for Florida State, tying the game up at 33 with less than five minutes to go in the third. Jones finished as the only Seminole in double figures with 11 points.

The game remained close toward the end of the third as UNC’s suffocating defense forced Florida State to commit 4 turnovers as the quarter closed out. The Tar Heels went into the fourth leading 40-35.

Kelly came out firing in the final quarter where she scored 10 of her 26 points and sparked a 12-0 UNC run midway through the fourth. The Seminoles had no answer for the Tar Heels fourth-quarter surge.

The Tar Heels have won five of their last six contests and look to continue their winning ways on Thursday as they go on the road to face Virginia on ACC Network Extra.