NASSAU, Bahamas — In an impressive performance, Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski each contributed 14 points, with Ustby also securing 14 rebounds, guiding No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 win against Villanova in a semifinal match of the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis.

The Tar Heels, now holding a record of 5-1, are set to face Indiana in the championship game on Monday. Indiana reached the finals after toppling No. 18 Baylor with a score of 73-65 in the earlier semifinal match.
Ustby displayed excellent shooting, hitting 6 out of 8 shots from the field, including a three-pointer, marking her first double-double of the season. Donarski also shone offensively, converting 6 of her 10 attempts along with two three-pointers.
For Villanova, Maddie Webber was the standout performer, leading the team with 12 points achieved via 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, while Lara Edmanson added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Defensively, North Carolina excelled by limiting Villanova’s top scorer, Jasmine Bascoe, to just two points. Bascoe, who averaged 16.6 points per game prior to this match, failed to make a single basket, missing all seven of her attempts—including three from long range—and making only 2 of 4 free throws.
The first quarter saw Ustby and Donarski help the Tar Heels build a solid lead, closing the period at 17-7. Donarski continued her scoring spree with five more points in the third quarter, allowing North Carolina to stretch their lead from 30-18 at halftime to 44-23 heading into the final quarter.
Throughout the game, North Carolina maintained a shooting percentage of 40%, hitting 5 out of 17 three-pointers (29.4%) and completing 4 of 6 free throws. In contrast, Villanova struggled offensively, finishing with a shooting percentage of just 23.5% overall, making 5 of 18 from the three-point range (27.8%) and converting 7 of their 10 free throw attempts.
The Tar Heels capitalized on their defensive pressure, scoring 15 points off Villanova’s 21 turnovers. While North Carolina recorded 14 turnovers of their own, Villanova could only convert these into three points.
In a commanding display, North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and led the game without ever trailing.