No. 16 North Carolina Holds On to Defeat Davidson, 74-70
In an exciting college basketball showdown, the No. 16 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels narrowly escaped with a 74-70 victory over the Davidson Wildcats. With only seconds left on the clock, Lexi Donarski sealed the win for North Carolina by sinking two crucial free throws. Meanwhile, Indya Nivar’s clutch block of a last-second 3-point attempt by Mallorie Haines preserved the Tar Heels’ hard-fought triumph.
North Carolina started strongly, building a 10-point lead after the first quarter. However, the Wildcats clawed their way back from a nine-point deficit to grab a late lead in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Charlise Dunn of Davidson played a pivotal role in her team’s comeback, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to put her squad ahead with five minutes remaining in the game. Millie Prior’s layup gave the Wildcats a 66-65 lead, but North Carolina responded with a basket from Alyssa Ustby and a 3-pointer from Donarski to regain control at 70-66. Prior converted a three-point play to bring Davidson within one with 43 seconds left. However, a series of missed free throws by North Carolina gave the Wildcats an opportunity. Ultimately, Maria Gakdeng stepped up to the line, making both free throws to give the Tar Heels a three-point lead. Despite Davidson’s efforts, they were unable to close the gap, and Donarski’s successful free throws secured the win for North Carolina.
Deja Kelly led the scoring for the Tar Heels with 18 points, while Gakdeng and Donarski provided valuable contributions with 15 points each. Ustby showcased her versatility with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Dunn, coming off the bench for Davidson, impressed with her outside shooting, converting 5 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc and finishing with a team-high 21 points. Prior added 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Ellie Sutphin contributed 17 points and six rebounds.
Looking ahead, North Carolina will continue their four-game home stand by hosting Hampton on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Davidson will conclude its tour of the Research Triangle with a game against Duke on Thursday after splitting their games against Wake Forest and UNC.
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In conclusion, No. 16 North Carolina’s late heroics secured a thrilling 74-70 victory over Davidson. The intense match showcased the determination and skill of both teams as they fought for supremacy on the court. Fans and supporters can look forward to further exciting matchups as the basketball season progresses.
AP college basketball coverage can be found at the following links:
– AP Top 25 college basketball poll: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
– College basketball news: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
