Berkeley, California — In a thrilling matchup on Thursday, Reniya Kelly delivered an impressive performance with 16 points, leading No. 15 North Carolina to a 65-52 victory over No. 19 California. This win marked a significant moment for the Tar Heels as they overcame a strong showing from the Golden Bears’ Ioanna Krimili.

During the crucial fourth quarter, Kelly scored eight points, contributing to a dominant period where North Carolina outscored California by 11. With this win, the Tar Heels improved their season record to 19-4, including a 7-3 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Meanwhile, California now stands at 18-4 with a 6-3 record in their conference matches.

Krimili had a notable performance for the Golden Bears, hitting four shots from beyond the arc, which allowed her to set a new school record for the most three-pointers in a single season with her 66th. Her career total now stands at 403, making her the 16th woman in NCAA history to surpass the remarkable 400 mark.

The game saw North Carolina entering the final quarter with a slim 47-45 lead. Shortly into the period, Kelly and teammate Maria Gakdeng helped spark a 13-4 run, putting the Tar Heels in a stronger position. Alyssa Ustby supported the effort with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Gakdeng concluded her night with nine points and an impressive 13 rebounds. Lanie Grant also made her mark off the bench with 10 points.

Leading the charge for Cal, Krimili scored 20 points, contributing to the team’s strong start — the best they’ve had in 12 seasons. Just prior to this game, the Bears celebrated a notable milestone as they achieved their first regular-season sweep of Stanford since the 1985-86 campaign. Ugonne Onyiah added 14 points with an impressive 6-for-7 shooting display.

The beginning of the game saw Indya Nivar lead North Carolina to a slight 16-12 lead after the first quarter, while Onyiah was the standout for California, scoring 10 of the team’s points and finishing the first quarter shooting 5-for-5. As the match progressed, Ustby scored a basket off a rebound, followed by a layup and a three-pointer from Lexi Donarski, allowing the Tar Heels to finish the first half ahead at 33-26.

Although California trailed by 11 in the third quarter, they made a comeback with a 12-2 surge, sparked by three-pointers from Krimili and Lulu Twidale, pulling them back to within a single point. The Tar Heels are set to face Stanford on Sunday, while California will host Pittsburgh on the same day.