Kate Harpring put on a show Saturday, but North Carolina still came up just short in College Park.
Harpring scored 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting and added six rebounds and three steals, yet the Tar Heels fell 70-68 to Maryland in their second preseason game at the XFINITY Center. Nyla Brooks, a Maryland native, chipped in 14 points with three 3-pointers and four assists.
North Carolina spread the ball well throughout the afternoon, finishing with 15 assists on 26 made field goals.
Brooks gave the Tar Heels an early spark from long range, knocking down three triples in the opening minutes in front of the home crowd. Carolina jumped out fast, but Maryland answered with four straight made field goals to tie things at 13. Queiroz stopped an 8-0 Maryland run to trim the deficit to three after the first quarter.
The Terrapins found some rhythm from outside, and Zubich answered with a 3-pointer to keep Carolina close. The Tar Heels pushed back in the second quarter, taking the lead on a 6-0 run sparked by back-to-back baskets from Harpring. After Maryland tied it again, a Hull 3-pointer sent Carolina into halftime with a 33-32 edge.
The third quarter belonged to Harpring for long stretches. Maryland regained the lead by attacking inside, but Harpring kept answering, scoring 13 points in the period to pull Carolina even again. Still, the Terrapins closed the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 54-48 lead into the fourth.
Carolina kept fighting in the final minutes. Noelle Bofia’s first bucket of the day made it a one-possession game with six minutes left, but Maryland answered from deep again and added points at the line to build its cushion.
Harpring delivered a big block to give the Tar Heels the ball down three with a minute left, but they couldn’t cash in. Harpring then buried a 3-pointer to pull Carolina within 70-68 with 30 seconds remaining, forcing a Maryland timeout.
The Tar Heels held Maryland without a field goal over the final four minutes, but they couldn’t get the last bucket they needed.
North Carolina now turns to the regular season opener, when it heads to Paris for the 2026 Oui-Play on Nov. 2 against No. 21 Oklahoma.
The game against the Sooners will air on ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
UNC Landed A Guard Whose Road To Chapel Hill Suddenly Changed
Kevin Thomas arrived at North Carolina with a path that changed quickly, even by recruiting standards. The four-star guard had originally pledged to LSU, but once the Tigers fired Matt McMahon and brought in Will Wade, he asked for a release and reset his plans. UNC emerged as the destination, giving Thomas a fresh start in Chapel Hill and placing him in a program that now has him under Michael Malones staff while also putting him back alongside former high school teammate Matt Able.
For a newcomer still settling into college basketball, the first glimpse of Thomas in a Tar Heels uniform came in an exhibition setting, where he logged four minutes and showed the kind of defensive activity that can earn a young guard more chances. It was only a small opening, but it offered UNC a preview of a player whose road to Chapel Hill took an unexpected turn and whose next steps will be watched closely as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Left Frustrated After Costly Home Loss To ACC Rival
North Carolinas field hockey team had plenty of offense in a 4-3 home loss to Wake Forest at Karen Shelton Stadium, but it was not enough to keep pace in an ACC matchup that turned into a track meet. Ryleigh Heck scored twice for the Tar Heels, and Coco Courtright added another, giving Carolina enough punch to stay in it throughout the afternoon.
Mia Schoenbecks hat trick powered Wake Forest, and the result left North Carolina with little time to dwell on a frustrating setback on its home turf. The Tar Heels now turn their attention to Appalachian State, looking to reset quickly after a game that came down to which side could finish its chances. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Front Line Just Sent An Encouraging Message In Homecoming Win
North Carolinas front line gave the Tar Heels plenty to feel good about in a homecoming win over California, one that ended with a 3-1 set score and a noticeable lift from several key contributors. Laynie Smith powered her way to a career-best 14 kills, while Addison West added a career-high 12, giving the No. 23 Tar Heels the kind of balanced attack that can carry them as the season moves forward.
Mike Schall and his players pointed to the performance as a sign of progress, especially with several individuals stepping into bigger roles on the home floor. For a team looking to build momentum, the encouraging part is not just the result against California, but the way North Carolinas front line answered the moment and left room for even more as the schedule continues. [Read more 🡒]