In Durham, North Carolina, the eighth-ranked North Carolina women’s basketball team faced a setback in their matchup with 16th-ranked Duke, missing key players Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly. Their coach, Courtney Banghart, remains hopeful that the Tar Heels will soon be at full strength as they gear up for the decisive matches in March.
Ustby, a seasoned forward and essential component of the squad, has been sidelined for the last trio of games following an exit due to an unspecified injury in early play against an opponent, now ranked number nine, N.C. State on February 16. Meanwhile, Kelly, a sophomore guard recognized for her recent upsurge in offensive performance, was expected to participate but was unanticipatedly absent from the Duke clash despite consistently clocking over 30 minutes in her previous five contributions.
Both Ustby and Kelly watched from the sidelines in casual attire, which significantly impacted the team’s dynamics, particularly evident in a critical moment during the third quarter. During this period, UNC struggled by experiencing more turnovers (10) than points scored (nine), with Duke capitalizing heavily, gaining 11 points off those errors.
Following the game, when discussing Kelly’s absence, Banghart noted her situation as “minute to minute,” expressing confidence in her prompt return without divulging the nature of Kelly’s issue. Regarding Ustby, Banghart hinted at a light-hearted yet optimistic outlook, noting Ustby’s eagerness to rejoin her teammates, suggesting she appeared ready to substitute herself back into the game.
“She’ll be back, too,” Banghart affirmed, emphasizing the necessity of allowing recovery time to prevent risks associated with hasty returns. Ustby, known for her dedication, has been an integral part of the program, starting in 137 of her 144 career games and holding the title as the second-highest in rebounds in program history. This season, she stands as the second-leading scorer for the team, averaging 10.7 points and leading in rebounds with 9.4 per game.
Kelly also holds an important role, being the third-highest scorer on the squad with a 10.1 average, which she has boosted to 15.5 points over the last eight games, notably securing 23 points in their win against the Wolfpack.
Prior to their defeat at Duke, North Carolina held an impressive record, remaining the only team in the nation unbeaten on the road (9-0), boasting a seven-game streak and victories in 12 of their last 13 matchups. As the Tar Heels head into their last regular-season home game against Virginia this Sunday, they are keenly pursuing a coveted top-four seed and the advantageous double-round bye for the upcoming ACC Tournament.
Additionally, the team is aspiring to host early NCAA Tournament games, a stage they haven’t reached since 2015. Recent rankings by the selection committee, revealed just before their game commenced, placed UNC as a favorable regional 3-seed.
Coach Banghart noted, “If this was an NCAA Tournament game, it might be a little bit different. But we’ve got some more season left and we want to make sure we’re at our best when we need to be.”
