CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a dominating performance, Alyssa Ustby recorded a noteworthy 24 points along with 10 rebounds, while teammate Maria Gakdeng also achieved a double-double contributing 10 points and 11 rebounds as No. 16 North Carolina triumphed over winless North Carolina Central with an impressive score of 119-43 on Friday.

Ustby showcased her shooting prowess by hitting 10 of her 13 attempts, while Trayanna Crisp added 13 points to the tally for North Carolina, bringing their season record to 7-1. The Tar Heels displayed a strong offensive strategy, shooting 57% from the field with 46 successful shots out of 81 attempts, and hitting 11 out of 30 from three-point range. Lexi Donarski and Indya Nivar each contributed 11 points to the team’s total, with Ciera Toomey rounding it off with 10 points.

The leading scorer for North Carolina Central was Shakiria Foster, who managed to secure 18 points, although her team is still searching for their first win this season, now standing at 0-9.

North Carolina initiated the game with a commanding 19-5 lead, quickly extending their advantage to 34-12 by the end of the first quarter. Crisp was instrumental in this early run, netting 11 points, while Donarski supported with eight points in that period. By halftime, the Tar Heels had surged to a remarkable 65-25 lead, with Ustby, Gakdeng, Donarski, and Crisp all recording double-digit scores by the interval.

Fresh off their victory at the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, North Carolina is set to face 14th-ranked Kentucky in their upcoming game on Thursday.