Virginia Tech Hokies @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Kelly scores 20, No. 12 North Carolina women beat Virginia Tech 67-62
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- — Reniya Kelly scored 20 points, Lexi Donarski added 15, including a driving layup with 27 seconds left and No. 12 North Carolina beat Virginia Tech 67-62 on Thursday night for their fourth win in a row.
Alyssa Ustby finished with 16 rebounds to go with four points for North Carolina (22-4, 10-3 ACC). In her fifth year, Ustby has 1,210 career rebounds and moved past Charlotte Smith (1,200 from 1992-95) into second in program history and sixth all time in the ACC.
Carys Baker made 7 of 9 from the field, 3 of 4 from behind the arc, and led Virginia Tech (16-9, 7-7) with 15 points. Matilda Ekh added 13 points, including three 3s, and Mackenzie Nelson scored 10 points.
Ekh hit a 3-pointer and Carleigh Wenzel made two free throws to give the Hokies a four-point lead — matching their biggest of the game — just over three minutes into the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech was 1-of-6 shooting with three turnovers the rest of the way as the Tar Heels scored 13 of the final 17 points.
Grace Townsend converted a three-point play and, after Nelson hit two foul shots on the other end, Kelly followed with a 3-pointer before Townsend made a layup to give UNC a two-point lead with three minutes remaining. Baker hit a jumper that tied it at 62-all with 2:51 to play but neither teams scored again until Lanie Grant made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line with 1:17 left and the Tar Heel led the rest of the way.
Virginia Tech plays host to Stanford next Thursday. North Carolina wraps up back-to-back home games on Sunday against in-state rival and 10th-ranked N.C. State.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Billy Smith
- Brandon Enterline
- Tiara Cruse
2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 2-0 | - | 12-3 |
| NC State | 2-0 | - | 8-4 |
| Syracuse | 1-0 | 0.5 | 11-1 |
| Stanford | 1-0 | 0.5 | 10-2 |
| Notre Dame | 1-0 | 0.5 | 8-2 |
| Virginia | 1-0 | 0.5 | 9-3 |
| Duke | 1-0 | 0.5 | 6-6 |
| Virginia Tech | 1-1 | 1 | 10-3 |
| Wake Forest | 1-1 | 1 | 10-3 |
| Clemson | 1-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Miami | 1-1 | 1 | 7-4 |
| North Carolina | 0-1 | 1.5 | 10-3 |
| California | 0-1 | 1.5 | 8-4 |
| Pittsburgh | 0-1 | 1.5 | 7-6 |
| SMU | 0-1 | 1.5 | 6-6 |
| Boston College | 0-1 | 1.5 | 4-10 |
| Florida State | 0-2 | 2 | 5-9 |
| Georgia Tech | 0-2 | 2 | 4-9 |

