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DULUTH, Ga. — No. 3 UNC Tar Heels turned a scrappy first-half battle into a second-half blowout, outrunning Virginia Tech Hokies 85-68 at Gas South Arena to claim the final semifinal spot in the ACC Tournament.
The Hokies gave No. 3 North Carolina everything they had. It just wasn’t enough.
Virginia Tech pushed, scrapped, and led for long stretches of the first half before the Tar Heels did what good teams do — they made the adjustments, turned up the pressure, and pulled away. Final score: UNC 85, Virginia Tech 68. The Tar Heels are headed to the semifinals.
How It Unfolded
Virginia Tech came in riding the high of a Thursday win over Georgia Tech and played like it. The Hokies grabbed the early lead, held a 16-11 advantage after the first quarter, and had UNC looking uncomfortable and out of sync. The Tar Heels were missing the shots they needed to make and letting Virginia Tech dictate the pace. Not ideal for a team with semifinal ambitions.
The second quarter is where Carolina woke up. Nyla Harris started imposing her will on both ends of the floor. The offense found its rhythm. And then, in the game’s most pivotal stretch, UNC’s defense held Virginia Tech to just three points in the final three minutes of the half while the Tar Heels pushed eight the other way. A one-point game became a 13-point halftime lead almost without warning. UNC 40, Virginia Tech 27. Just like that, the whole complexion of the game changed.
The third quarter was a genuine battle — both teams matched each other with 24 points and Virginia Tech refused to go quietly. But the Hokies’ three-point shooting let them down badly when they needed it most. Missed looks from deep that could have trimmed the lead and injected life back into the building instead turned into transition opportunities for a Carolina offense that was already rolling. Those misses were the difference.
The fourth quarter belonged to UNC. The Tar Heels took it and ran, putting the game away with a decisive surge that left no doubt. Final: 85-68.
Who Stood Out
Lanie Grant led everyone with 21 points and made it look routine. She scored at every level and gave Virginia Tech no clean answer defensively all night long.
Nyla Harris put together a double-double — 19 points and 10 rebounds — that was the backbone of UNC’s first-half survival. When the Tar Heels were shaky, Harris was steady.
Elina Aarnisalo ran the show with 18 points and 6 assists, keeping UNC’s offense moving at a pace Virginia Tech couldn’t consistently match.
On the other side, Carleigh Wenzel was exceptional in a losing effort. Her 26-point night was the best individual performance of the game and the only reason the final margin wasn’t wider. She gave Carolina problems from start to finish and deserved a better outcome around her.
Up Next
UNC rolls into the ACC Tournament semifinals with three players in double figures and a defense that knows how to close. Virginia Tech fought hard across two tournament games and can hold their heads high — Wenzel’s performance alone made the trip worth watching.
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