In Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Tar Heels put on a shooting clinic, sinking 14 three-pointers to secure a commanding 78-50 victory over Pitt. This performance ties a program record for threes in a game and marks the 11th time this season they've hit double digits from deep. The win also highlights back-to-back seasons with 12 conference victories, a feat not seen in over two decades for the Tar Heels.
Freshman Nyla Brooks made a splash in her first career start, racking up 18 points with three shots from beyond the arc. Laila Hull was right there with her, posting a career-high 17 points and shooting 50% from three-point range. Hull also contributed on defense with four rebounds and a steal.
Sharing the ball has been a staple for North Carolina, evident in their 19 assists-marking the 20th game this season with at least 15 assists. Guards Lanie Grant and Elina Aarnisalo combined for 10 assists, with Aarnisalo reaching a career milestone of 200 assists.
Defensively, Ciera Toomey was a force with four blocks in the first half, setting a personal best in an ACC game. The Tar Heels' defense held Pitt to just 30.6% shooting, making it the tenth ACC opponent they've kept under 40% this season.
The game started slow for North Carolina, with missed opportunities down low until Nyla Harris broke the ice with her only basket. Aarnisalo sparked the offense with a key inbound play and a three-pointer, closing the first quarter with Pitt leading 14-12.
The second quarter was a different story. North Carolina exploded for 30 points, tying their season high for points in a quarter.
Hull hit four triples, matching her personal best, while Brooks added eight points and two rebounds. The Tar Heels went on a 15-3 run and held Pitt to 13 points, taking a 42-27 lead into halftime.
The barrage from three-point land continued in the third quarter, with Grant and Brooks hitting two each. Aarnisalo kept the ball moving, recording three assists in the period and setting up Taissa Queiroz for a buzzer-beater, extending the lead to 63-39.
In the final quarter, Liza Astakhova came off the bench and made an impact with a three-pointer and an and-one play, along with three rebounds to thwart any Pitt comeback attempts. The Tar Heels closed out the game with a decisive 78-50 win.
Next up, North Carolina travels to Virginia for their final road game of the season, facing the Cavaliers on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, available on ACC Network Extra.