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Tar Heels WBB Shines in Season Opener

Lawrence Davis III @LawDavis13 @SpecMagSports

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina opened the 2023-24 season Wednesday night with an exclamation point, beating Gardner-Webb 102-49 in a women’s basketball matchup at Carmichael Arena.

Six players hit double figures for the No. 16 Tar Heels, who are back in action on Sunday with another home game against an in-state opponent, hosting Davidson at 6 p.m.

“You could see that there’s a lot to be excited about here, and I’m glad to finally be able to share it,” UNC coach Courtney Banghart said afterward, discussing her fifth squad at UNC, which includes seven returners and eight newcomers. “This is a group that has depth and pieces and stars, and the new pieces have been great, the returners have gotten better.”

Indya Nivar, a sophomore transfer from Stanford, came off the bench for a double-double, scoring a team-high 17 points – including a three from beyond halfcourt at the first-quarter buzzer – to go with 11 rebounds. Both were career highs for Nivar, who is from nearby Apex, N.C.

Sophomore guard Paulina Paris scored 15 points in a team-high 31 minutes of play. She handed out five assists, one shy of her career high.

Senior Deja Kelly hit the team’s first bucket of the season, a jumper 57 seconds into the action, and finished with 14 points – including 5-6 shooting from the free throw line – in 22 minutes of play.

Graduate student Lexi Donarski, making her UNC debut after transferring from Iowa State, finished with 14 points, including four three-pointers, all in the third quarter.

Senior Alyssa Ustby registered her 23rd career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds and also tied her career high with six assists.

Junior Maria Gakdeng, another transfer, finished with 13 points.

The Tar Heels topped 100 for the first time since a 107-46 win over UNC Asheville early in the 2021-22 season and outrebounded the Runnin’ Bulldogs 52-33.

Carolina led throughout and shot 42.5 percent from the game, including 69.6 percent (16-23) in the third quarter, when the Tar Heels outscored Gardner-Webb 40-11.