WBB Notebook: UNC Tested Among The Best, Post-UCLA Reflections & More

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Last week’s trip to Las Vegas resulted in a 1-1 split for the Tar Heels in the WBCA Challenge, and they measured themselves against a title contender in the process.

No. 14 North Carolina faced its first test of the regular season when matching up against No. 3 UCLA. UNC started strong against the Bruins, leading by six in the second quarter after Nyla Brooks turned a steal into a layup. But UCLA cut into the lead and took control before halftime, leading by one. UNC didn’t lead after a Nyla Harris jumper in the third quarter put the team ahead by one, as UCLA seized control and secured the 78-60 neutral site win.

The Tar Heels faced South Carolina in a preseason game in Atlanta last month, losing that game 91-82. That exhibition and Thursday’s game offered good gauges of where this younger UNC team currently stands.

UNC lost much of its scoring and veteran experience at the end of last season, a successful one that saw UNC host two NCAA tournament games for the first time in 10 years, among other milestones. With a new core of younger players and roles still being fortified, UNC seeks to climb the ladder and take the next step as a team.

“We know we can compete with the best teams in the country,” Indya Nivar said on Thursday. “We have all we need. It’s just putting it all together for 40 minutes. I feel like that’s what we’ve been learning, and what we learned against South Carolina. I feel like this was a better learning experience for us. We see that we can do it for longer. It’s just (that) we need to get to that 40-minute mark before March, because I feel like we can compete with the best teams.”

Added Courtney Banghart: “There’s enough here. We just have to keep getting better. With a young team, it’s not going to happen in the first month. We knew that. We know that. But I know this group, and I know they’ll continue to push to get better and better.”

Last season was UNC’s best under Banghart, as it secured a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished 29-8. The Tar Heels made progress, but the program is still finding its way on the journey of becoming a national contender.

The team has reached the Sweet Sixteen twice under Banghart, losing both times. Banghart’s highest ACC finish so far occurred in the 2021-22 season, when the team was tied for third in the league and received a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The 2022 team also received a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament.

North Carolina is 6-13 under Banghart against AP top-10 teams in the regular season, and that record becomes 3-9 against teams in the top five after the loss to No. 3 UCLA. UNC’s highest AP ranking under Banghart is the No. 6 spot it notched in 2023, and the team’s highest last year was No. 8.

One element separating UNC from teams in the upper echelon is the presence of pro prospects on the roster. UNC has recruited well, with multiple five-star signings under Banghart, but North Carolina last produced a WNBA Draft pick in 2021 with first-rounder Stephanie Watts. In comparison, teams like South Carolina, UConn, LSU, Notre Dame and USC all sent at least one in last year’s draft.

The Tar Heels had to face Betts, the potential No. 1 pick in next year’s WNBA Draft, on Thursday. Betts finished Thursday’s game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.

“Lauren’s a great player,” Elina Aarnisalo said. “We expect her to be the number one draft pick. With her size, her skill set, it’s hard to guard her. I think we did a great job forcing her to take tough shots, dribble the ball, which, of course with her length, she wants to just put it up and not have to dribble and make a lot of moves.”

Nivar currently leads the Tar Heels with 11.8 points per game. Ciera Toomey is starting to find her footing in her redshirt-sophomore season, averaging 11 points along with 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, both team-highs.

UNC will face No. 4 Texas in Austin for this year’s ACC/SEC Challenge. The Longhorns, like the Bruins, reached the Final Four last season.

In the past, North Carolina has shown its ability to compete against top teams, or at least hang around, in flashes. Now, it’s a matter of consistency in head-to-head matchups to join them on that tier.

“I know it’s not there yet, but we have all that we need to compete,” Nivar said. “We have all the skill, all the players that we need. And it’s going to come together, for sure, when the time is right.”

Elina Aarnisalo Faces Former Team

Aarnisalo started in her first matchup against her former team, as the UCLA transfer took on the Bruins as UNC’s starting guard. Aarnisalo scored 13 points (6-16 FG, 1-7 3PT) against UCLA, with eight of those points coming in the first quarter, including a buzzer-beating driving layup to put UNC ahead by five. She added three assists, three rebounds, a block and a steal to her totals.

Last season, Aarnisalo averaged 5.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 37 games as a freshman for the Final Four Bruins squad. She was one of six players to transfer from the team last offseason.

“Of course, I was a little bit more nervous than for a regular game,” Aarnisalo said. “But as the game started, it’s a basketball game. I’ve done this for my whole life, everywhere, since I was a little kid. It was fun playing my old teammates, seeing them do well. That was nice.”

Aarnisalo is averaging 8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists through four games for the Tar Heels. She’s still looking for a rhythm with her shot, shooting 34.9% from the field.

Fairfield Win Completes Split, Reniya Kelly Plays More

North Carolina got back into the win column by defeating Fairfield. Laila Hull, who didn’t play against UCLA, led the way with 14 points (tying a career-high) and knocked down four 3-pointers in 14 minutes off the bench.

Reniya Kelly started in both games in Las Vegas, playing 22 minutes against UCLA and 25 against Fairfield. She made one shot in each of the two games while dishing out a combined seven assists in that span.

Banghart said she doesn’t want to jeopardize Kelly for ACC play, and that the team is “very comfortable with what she’ll be able to do in December.”

“We’re going to make sure that we’re not doing anything in the non-conference that will affect the conference, quite frankly,” Banghart said on Thursday. “We’ll continue to progress her as is needed and as her body allows.”

UNC will face two Greensboro opponents this week, with North Carolina A&T on the road on Thursday and UNCG at home on Sunday.

Recent Results

UCLA: L 60-78

Elina Aarnisalo: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Ciera Toomey: 11 points (3-6 3PT), 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Indya Nivar: 11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal

FG: 34.8% (24-69)
3PT: 27.3% (9-33)
FT: 60% (3-5)

Fairfield: W 82-68

Laila Hull: 14 points (4-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Nyla Harris: 12 points (5-8 FG), 7 rebounds
Indya Nivar: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists

FG: 41.8% (28-67)
3PT: 32% (8-25)
FT: 75% (18-24)

Up Next

Thursday: At North Carolina A&T, 7 p.m.
Sunday: Home vs. UNCG, 6 p.m.