UNC Women’s Basketball Finds Its Groove After Halftime, Downs Miami 73-62
CHAPEL HILL - For two quarters, North Carolina and Miami traded buckets in a game that felt like it could tilt either way. But after halftime, the Tar Heels flipped the switch - and once they did, there was no looking back.
Fueled by a dominant third quarter and a commitment to cleaner, more controlled basketball, UNC pulled away from the Hurricanes for a 73-62 win Thursday night at Carmichael Arena. Now sitting at 14-5 overall and 3-3 in ACC play, the Tar Heels showed signs of a team starting to turn a corner. Here’s what stood out in a win that was more than just another tally in the W column.
1. The Third Quarter Was a Statement - and a Sign of Growth
If there’s been a recurring theme in UNC’s conference games this season, it’s been the struggle to come out of halftime with energy and execution. That wasn’t the case against Miami.
Down 34-32 at the break, the Tar Heels came out with purpose in the third quarter, outscoring the Hurricanes 24-12 and seizing control of a game that had been on a razor’s edge. It wasn’t just one run or a lucky shooting stretch - it was sustained pressure on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, UNC locked in. Offensively, they pushed the pace and played with flow, avoiding the stagnation that had crept in during previous ACC matchups.
“That was a priority for us,” head coach Courtney Banghart said. “The third quarter has kind of hurt us so far… and they did that obviously.”
Banghart’s message? This wasn’t just about one good quarter. It was about a team learning how to respond, how to adjust, and how to grow.
“The most dangerous team is the team that keeps getting better,” she said. “And this team doesn’t lie down.”
UNC didn’t just play better - they played smarter. They made Miami uncomfortable, turned defense into offense, and took the kind of control that championship-caliber teams know how to maintain once they have it.
2. Reniya Kelly Was Locked In - And Let the Game Come to Her
Reniya Kelly didn’t just have a big night - she had an efficient one. The sophomore guard poured in a career-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
But this wasn’t a heat-check performance. It was a clinic in shot selection and rhythm.
“I literally practiced those shots,” Kelly said. “Every shot I took tonight, I practiced those… so I was in rhythm.”
And it showed. Kelly didn’t force anything. She read the defense, picked her spots, and delivered exactly what UNC needed - a steady hand on a night when perimeter shooting was otherwise inconsistent.
Banghart wasn’t surprised.
“She never left,” the coach said when asked if this was a return to form for Kelly. “She’s been leading our team even when she’s been in a bit of a shooting slump. It’s never been about her - it’s about winning.”
Kelly echoed that mindset.
“It’s really not all about the scoring,” she said. “As long as we got the win… that’s the main goal.”
Her performance wasn’t just about numbers - it was about tone-setting. In a game where every possession mattered, Kelly’s poise and precision gave UNC a backbone.
3. Defense and Discipline Did the Dirty Work
UNC didn’t shoot the lights out. They didn’t need to.
What they did do was take care of the ball, force mistakes, and capitalize when it mattered. The Tar Heels turned it over just nine times, forced 12 Miami turnovers, and turned those extra possessions into points. That kind of discipline - especially in a tight game - makes all the difference.
“Ball control was a big part of it,” Banghart said. “When you shoot as poorly as we did, you need more shots than your opponent - and we got them.”
The Tar Heels also went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, a stat that doesn’t always make headlines but absolutely wins games. Combine that with solid rebounding and contributions off the bench, and UNC had the kind of all-around performance that good teams find even when the shots aren’t falling.
Bottom Line
This was a win that felt earned. UNC didn’t just out-talent Miami - they out-executed them when it counted. The third-quarter surge, Kelly’s efficient scoring, and a commitment to playing clean, connected basketball all pointed to a team that’s figuring things out.
At 3-3 in the ACC, the road ahead is still challenging. But Thursday night showed what this group is capable of when they put all the pieces together. If this is the version of UNC we’re going to see moving forward, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone in the conference.