North Carolina Dodges Upset, Defeats Boston College 78-71 in ACC Tournament

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The No. 14 North Carolina women’s basketball team narrowly defeated Boston College, 78-71, in the second round of the 2025 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday. The victory propels the Tar Heels (26-5, 13-4 ACC) into the quarterfinals, where they will face fourth-seeded Florida State on Friday.

North Carolina achieved its 26th win of the season for the first time since 2014-15 and secured its second ACC Tournament victory during head coach Courtney Banghart’s tenure. Facing an upset-minded Boston College (16-17, 6-12 ACC), the Tar Heels fought hard for a full 40 minutes to clinch the win.

Graduate guard Lexi Donarski highlighted the game with a standout performance, scoring 20 points and making five three-pointers, a record for most threes in an ACC Tournament game during Banghart’s era. “I really feel like it came from within all of us,” Donarski stated. “Just knowing that we’re better than this and we’re not going to accept anything but the best from each other and from ourselves.”

Carolina surged ahead with an impressive 11-0 run at the game’s onset, but Boston College managed to keep the scoring competitive, trailing by just four points at halftime, 36-30. The Eagles shot 12 for 26 from beyond the arc throughout the game and gave North Carolina a tough fight.

North Carolina maintained its edge with contributions from various players. Freshman Alyssa Ustby returned to the lineup after a four-game injury absence, adding 11 points and six rebounds, while sophomore guard Indya Nivar scored 14 points. “I think a lot of that came down to buying into one another,” Ustby said regarding the team’s effort in the second half.

The second half saw rapid scoring exchanges. After three quarters, the game was tied at 54-54, with Boston College holding a brief lead at 63-54 in the fourth. However, the Tar Heels rallied back, executing a 7-0 run fueled by turnovers from the Golden Eagles.

With less than two minutes to go, Donarski drained a key three-pointer that pushed North Carolina’s lead to seven points, helping to secure the victory. Boston College attempted to cut the deficit in the closing moments but was limited to just three points in the final stretch. Donarski sealed the game with two free throws, closing it out at 78-71.

This win marks North Carolina’s third appearance in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals under Banghart and the first since 2023. The Tar Heels are set to clash with Florida State at 11 a.m. ET Friday, with the game airing on ESPN2.