UNC upsets Notre Dame on the road

SOUTH BEND, Ind. ­– Sophomore Indya Nivar came off the bench for a team-high 16 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and graduate student Lexi Donarski added 13 in playing all 40 minutes to lead the UNC women’s basketball team to a 61-57 win at No. 16 Notre Dame on Sunday.

The victory at Purcell Pavilion, which improved Carolina to 3-0 in ACC play, was the Tar Heels’ first ever in South Bend. It was also the team’s second victory in a row over a ranked team, following Thursday’s homecourt win over No. 25 Syracuse.

Next up for UNC (11-4) is another ranked road battle, this one at No. 22 Florida State on Thursday.

UNC made three of its first four shots to jump out to a 6-0 lead, saw that advantage evaporate into a two-point Notre Dame lead at 8-6, and then again built a big advantage to go ahead by as many as 12 late in the first quarter. The Tar Heels shot 52.9 percent from the field in the first period, marking the second game in a row they’ve been at 50 percent or better over the first 10 minutes.

By halftime, however, UNC’s lead was a precarious three, 31-28, as the Tar Heels missed six of their first seven shots in the second quarter and were outscored 16-11. The home team quickly took the lead after halftime, going up by one on a Sonia Citron jumper 46 seconds into the period. A three by Citron, who returned to the court after missing the past nine games, gave the hosts their largest lead of the game at seven points, 46-39, with 1:46 to play in the third.

Donarski beat the third-quarter buzzer with a three to make it a one-point game, 46-45 Notre Dame, heading into the fourth.

Carolina opened the final period with a 9-0 run – Nivar scored the first seven – but that still wasn’t the ballgame. The Fighting Irish tied it up at 55-55 with 3:41 to play on a pair of free throws by Citron, who finished with a game-high 18 points. At that point, UNC had been 2:32 without a basket, but scored the next six points in the game to take the win. After a free throw by junior Maria Gakdeng, Nivar sliced in for a lay-up and then hit one of two free throws for her 16th point of the night. Donarski went to the line with four seconds to play and hit both of hers to give the Tar Heels a six-point lead.

Notre Dame’s Anna DeWolfe hit a long two at the buzzer, slightly delaying the Tar Heel celebration as the officials determined whether it was a three and whether there was time remaining on the clock. The answers were no and no, and Carolina was able to enjoy its second ranked win in the past four days.

In addition to her 16 points, one shy of her career high, Nivar made a career-high five steals as the Tar Heels totaled 12, their high in ACC play. “She was a total star, on both ends,” Banghart said.

Carolina held the Irish (10-3, 1-2 ACC) 30 points below their 87.4 ppg average, which ranks 10th in the nation.

Gakdeng finished with eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, one of which was particularly crucial. it came on a driving layup with 21 seconds to play and the Tar Heels holding a three-point lead. Deja Kelly grabbed the defensive rebound, one of her six boards on the night as UNC won the rebounding battle 47-41.

Senior Alyssa Ustby led UNC in rebounds with 11 for her fourth consecutive double-digit game and added seven points and three assists. Donarski grabbed six rebounds, one shy of her season high.

“Everybody who played scored, 24 bench points, team win,” Banghart said. “Really happy for our guys.”

The total off the bench, fueled by Nivar’s 16, marked just the fourth time this year UNC has gotten 24 or more points from its reserves. (The Tar Heels got a combined 22 points off the bench in the first two ACC games.)

“The subs that we have coming in, the energy stays the same,” said Donarski, who played 40 minutes for the second time this season. “People are making huge plays no matter who’s in the game. It’s just a lot of fun.”