Final: North Carolina falls to UConn, 63-42.
The Tar Heels finish the season with a 28-8 record — the first time since 2014 that UNC has recorded 27-plus wins in back-to-back seasons.
UNC could get doubled-up by UConn amidst a 15-0 Huskie run.
The Tar Heels have gone ice cold, and are 0 for their last 7 shots. Nyla Harris with 4 fouls, the turnovers continuing to pile up... feels like there may be little hope with 16+ minutes still remaining.
HALFTIME: UNC trails 28-20
Indya Nivar single-handedly keeping the Tar Heels in the game so far. Her 11 points and six rebounds are willing a North Carolina team that was 8-for29 and had 11 turnovers.
Elina Aarnisalo breaks the scoring drought, but even then its a hard (off-balance shot) to do so.
Meanwhile, UConn is 5 for its last 5 from the field. Tar Heels got to keep it manageable over the final five min of this half.
After one, UNC leads 12-11
Tar Heels hold the Huskies to 5-for-22 shooting and get the UConn miss their last six shots. Indya Nivar five points and five boards. North Carolina here to play.
Maybe a little bit of Sweet 16 nerves, but both teams a combined 5-21 to start with UNC missing some gimmes at the rim already.
Banghart's timeout may serve to settle the Tar Heels, but they need to take advantage of UConn's slow start.
Interesting note from UNC game notes before we get underway:
"The only other time UNC and UConn have played each other in the NCAA Tournament was in 1994, when the Tar Heels knocked off the top-ranked Huskies 81-69 en route to their national title."
Maryland ties the game at 50 after trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half. Turnovers, missed shots and Maryland getting on the offensive glass have been killing UNC all day, but even more so without constant scoring.
North Carolina's bench — and certainly the crowd — getting...
Halftime - UNC leads 42-33
Elina Aarnisalo drills a top of the key 3-pointer for her first shot from outside the paint and its cash to give the Tar heels a nine-point advantage. Extremely efficient shooting from North Carolina in the first half, but 10 turnovers and allowing Maryland 10...