Reniya Kelly’s Career Night Fuels Tar Heels Past Miami in Second-Half Surge
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina women’s basketball found itself in a grind-it-out battle at halftime, but when the third quarter rolled around, the Tar Heels flipped the switch. Behind a career night from sophomore guard Reniya Kelly, UNC poured in 24 third-quarter points to break things open and pull away for a 73-62 win over Miami Thursday night at Carmichael Arena.
Kelly was simply electric. She dropped a career-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including four made threes, and added six assists and a steal for good measure.
Whether it was a pull-up mid-range jumper or a deep ball off the catch, Kelly had every shot in her bag working. Miami had no answer.
This wasn’t just a solo act, though. Freshman forward Taissa Queiroz had a breakout performance of her own, notching a career-best 10 points and tying her season-high with six rebounds. She gave UNC valuable minutes in the paint and helped set the tone during a critical second-quarter stretch.
And then there was Indya Nivar. After a quiet first half, the sophomore guard erupted in the second, scoring all 13 of her points after the break. Her energy and ability to get downhill were key in sparking the Tar Heels’ offensive rhythm.
North Carolina also made history at the line. The team went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw stripe - the most makes without a miss in the Courtney Banghart era and the best mark since at least the 2002-03 season. In a game where every possession mattered, those free throws were gold.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with Kelly setting the tone early. She scored nine of UNC’s 15 first-quarter points, matching her season-high scoring output for a single quarter. The Tar Heels forced four early turnovers and converted them into five points, helping them grab a narrow 15-13 lead after one.
In the second quarter, Queiroz came alive. She scored eight points on perfect shooting and added three boards, while Nivar dished out a couple of dimes to set her up. Still, Miami hung tough, shooting 5-of-7 in the quarter and knocking down a late three to take a 34-32 lead into halftime.
That’s when North Carolina locked in.
The Tar Heels came out of the locker room with renewed energy on defense, forcing Miami into longer possessions and disrupting their perimeter looks. Nivar got things rolling with a coast-to-coast drive, and Lanie Grant followed with a deep three - her eighth straight game with a made triple - to give UNC a jolt.
Even when the offense hit a brief lull, the defense held strong. Then, with the third quarter winding down, Kelly buried her fourth three-pointer of the game to stretch the lead to double digits. It was a dagger that gave UNC a 56-46 edge heading into the final frame.
Miami tried to claw back, opening the fourth with a quick three to cut the lead. The game got physical inside, with both teams battling for offensive boards and second-chance looks.
But the Tar Heels stayed composed. Nyla Brooks found Elina Aarnisalo for a clutch long-range bucket, and Ciera Toomey, Nyla Harris, and Nivar all contributed in crunch time to help UNC close it out.
With the win, North Carolina improves to 13-5 overall and 2-3 in ACC play, while extending its win streak over Miami to four games.
Next up, the Tar Heels hit the road for a Sunday showdown in Tallahassee against Florida State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. ET, and the game will air nationally on The CW Network.