In a commanding display on Saturday during the women’s NCAA Tournament’s first round, third-seeded North Carolina managed to pull away from 14th-seeded Oregon State, securing a 70-49 victory. Lexi Donarski emerged as a key player, scoring 17 of her impressive 19 points in the third quarter alone. During this period, she also achieved a season-high by hitting five 3-pointers, which fueled the Tar Heels’ decisive 30-9 run over the Beavers in the third quarter.
Alongside Donarski, Alyssa Ustby contributed significantly with 10 points and nine rebounds, marking a program milestone with her career’s 1,252nd rebound. Maria Gakdeng added her share to the scoreboard with 13 points.
For Oregon State, Kelsey Rees was a standout, leading her team with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while AJ Marotte chipped in 13 points. However, despite their efforts, the Beavers struggled to keep up with North Carolina’s relentless attack, particularly during the third quarter.
North Carolina, which boasts a 28-7 record, now advances to face off against sixth-seeded West Virginia in the second round on Monday. The Mountaineers reached this stage by defeating 11th-seeded Columbia 78-59.
Initially, the game saw North Carolina jump ahead with a 15-7 lead. However, Oregon State rallied back for a brief moment, even taking a lead at 20-17, courtesy of a three-pointer from Marotte with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter. But a swift response from the Tar Heels saw them retake the lead at halftime with a jumper from Reniya Kelly, ending the half at 26-24.
In the second half, North Carolina emerged with renewed vigor. They kept Oregon State scoreless for over three minutes while going on an 11-point run, with Donarski scoring all the points during this surge. The Tar Heels displayed sharp shooting accuracy in the third quarter, connecting on 11 of 17 shots, including an impressive 6-of-8 from beyond the three-point line.
Analyzing the game, Oregon State’s journey ended here, marking the continued trend in NCAA Tournament history where a 14th seed on the women’s side has yet to secure a victory. Despite a resilient start, they found it challenging to counter Donarski’s hot shooting streak.
Meanwhile, North Carolina capitalized on their second half momentum, outscoring Oregon State 44 to 25, representing a full team turnaround. The 28 wins gathered by the Tar Heels under head coach Courtney Banghart now stand as a new high for the program, matching a record that dates back to 2013.
As the tournament progresses, North Carolina eyes their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2022. Their upcoming match against West Virginia offers a glimpse into what could be a significant milestone, as North Carolina seeks to solidify their prowess in the competition. West Virginia, aiming for their first Sweet 16 entry since the tournament’s expansion in 1992, adds an exciting dynamic to the upcoming clash.
