UNC WBB pulls away from Syracuse Thursday night, wins sixth-straight game
UNC WBB pulls away from Syracuse Thursday night, wins sixth-straight game UNC pulled away late from Syracuse on Thursday night.
The UNC women's basketball team, one of the 2024-2025 season's greatest success stories, just finds ways to keep on winning.
North Carolina's latest victory came Thursday night in New York. Despite allowing Syracuse to close its fourth-quarter gap, the Tar Heels closed out the host Orange effectively for a 68-58 victory.
UNC (24-4, 12-3) won its sixth-straight game mainly due to the play of center Maria Gakdeng, who enjoyed one of her best games of the season. Gakdeng recorded her third double-double on the year, tying her season-highs with 21 points and 14 rebounds, which led all players in the game.
North Carolina shot the ball fairly well against Syracuse (10-16, 4-11), making 28-of-61 (45.9 percent) field goal attempts. The Tar Heels, who struggle at the free throw line, drained all five attempts.
While Gakdeng stole headlines with her massive game, we can't forget about the contributions from Trayanna Crisp off the bench. Crisp poured in 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, which included two made 3-pointers.
Syracuse made this game closer-than-expected due to its ability to knock down perimeter shots, with the host Orange shooting 9-of-16 from deep. Georgia Wooley made four three and led Syracuse with 17 points, Olivia Schmitt drained three trifectas off the bench, while Sophie Burrows drained a pair of threes.
UNC will be tested to close out its February slate, with a Sunday game at fifth-place Louisville and a rematch on Thursday, Feb. 27 at Duke. North Carolina then hosts Virginia on March 2 to close out its regular season, then heads an hour west to Greensboro for the ACC Tournament.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Breaking down the teams playing for national championship at the College World Series
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Friday at Charles Schwab Field. (Capsules in order of CWS opening games. Coaches' records through super regionals): Coach: Kevin Schnall (53-11 in 1 year at Coastal Carolina and overall). Road to Omaha: Won Conway Regional: beat Fairfield 10-2, beat East Carolina 18-7, beat East Carolina 1-0. Won Auburn Super Regional: beat Auburn 7-6 in 10 innings, beat Auburn 4-1. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0. Last CWS appearance: 2016. All-time record in CWS: 6-2 in one appearance (won national title in 2016). Meet the Chanticleers: C Caden Bodine (.329, 5 HRs, 41 RBIs), 1B Colby Thorndyke (.301, 4, 40), 2B Blake Barthol (.274, 12, 50), SS Ty Dooley (.292, 6, 36), 3B Walker Mitchell (.292, 4, 45), LF Sebastian Alexander (.328, 10, 53), CF Wells Sykes (.293, 3, 36), RF Blagen Pado (.273, 8, 30), DH Ty Barrango (.247, 2, 19). Starting pitchers: RHP Cameron Flukey (7-1, 3.35 ERA), RHP Jacob Morrison (11-0, 2.11), RHP Riley Eikhoff (6-2, 2.90). Relievers: LHP Hayden Johnson (4-0, 3.43), RHP Ryan Lynch (2-1, 0.59, 8 saves), RHP Matthew Potok (4-1, 2.55), LHP Dominick Carbone (6-0, 2.61), RHP Darin Horn (5-1, 2.96), RHP Luke Jones (4-2, 3.51), RHP Scott Doran (1-0, 4.15). MLB alumni: Mickey Brantley, Tommy La Stella, Kirt Manwaring, Taylor Motter, Dave Sappelt, Zach Remillard, Luis Lopez. Short hops: Chanticleers have the nation's longest active winning streak, at 23 games. Since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999, no team has entered the CWS with so many consecutive wins. ... Schnall was an assistant on Gary Gilmore's national championship-winning team in 2016. He succeeded Gilmore, who retired after last season, and is in his 22nd season on the staff over two stints. ... Chants' 53 wins are most in nation. ... Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament champion. ... Chants batters have been hit by 170 pitches, most in the nation. Quotable: 'This is not a Cinderella story. We're one of the premier, most successful college baseball programs in the entire country.' — Schnall. ___ Arizona (44-19) Coach: Chip Hale (152-93 in 4 years at Arizona and overall). Road to Omaha: Won Eugene Regional: beat Cal Poly 3-2, beat Utah Valley 14-4, beat Cal Poly 14-0. Won Chapel Hill Super Regional: lost to North Carolina 11-2, beat North Carolina 10-8, beat North Carolina 4-3. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 0-1. Last CWS appearance: 2021. All-time record in CWS: 43-32 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012). Meet the Wildcats: C Adonys Guzman (.318, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs), 1B Tommy Splaine (.290, 5, 25), 2B Garen Caulfield (.262, 8, 43), SS Mason White (.332, 19, 72), 3B Maddox Mihalakis (.278, 5, 35), LF Easton Breyfogle (.248, 5, 31) or TJ Adams (.167, 0, 7), CF Aaron Walton (.320, 14, 49), RF Brendan Summerhill (.358, 4, 34), DH Andrew Cain (.245, 6, 22). RHP Owen Kramkowski (9-6, 5.48 ERA), RHP Raul Garayzar (2-0, 2.81), RHP Smith Bailey (3-3, 4.01). Relievers: RHP Tony Pluta (3-0, 1.26, 14 saves), RHP Garrett Hicks (5-0, 5.61), RHP Julian Tonghini (4-2, 4.26), RHP Casey Hintz (7-4, 5.53), RHP Michael Hilker Jr. (2-1, 6.45), RHP Hunter Alberini (1-0, 3.48), RHP Matthew Martinez (3-0, 4.42), RHP Collin McKinney (0-2, 3.98), LHP Eric Orloff (1-0, 5.14). MLB alumni: Kenny Lofton, J.T. Snow, Tony Clark, Ron Hassey, Scott Erickson, Dan Meyer, Trevor Hoffman, Nick Hundley, Jack Howell, Casey Candaele, Terry Francona, Gil Heredia, Hank Leiber, Craig Lefferts, Joe Magrane, Mark Melancon. Short hops: Wildcats are back in Omaha for first time since going 0-2 in the 2021 CWS under current LSU coach Jay Johnson. Dawson Netz, who made relief appearances in both games, is a graduate manager. ... Hale played on Arizona's 1986 championship team. ... White's 48 career homers rank second in program history. The Tucson native has hit 35 of them at road or neutral sites. ... Wildcats' 36 triples lead nation. ... Pluta's 14 saves are a school record. Quotable: 'We're going to go there, put our best foot forward and try to win our fifth national championship.' — Hale. ___ Louisville (40-22) Coach: Dan McDonnell (791-357-1 in 19 years at Louisville and overall). Road to Omaha: Won Nashville Regional: beat East Tennessee State 8-3, beat Vanderbilt 3-2, beat Wright State 6-0. Won Louisville Super Regional: beat Miami 8-1, lost 9-6 to Miami, beat Miami 3-2. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0. Last CWS appearance: 2019. All-time record in CWS: 4-10 in 5 appearances. Meet the Cardinals: C Matt Klein (.327, 5 HRs, 30 RBIs), 1B Tague Davis (.286, 18, 50), 2B Kamau Neighbors (.250, 0, 16), SS Alex Alicea (.310, 1, 24), 3B Jake Munroe (.345, 12, 58), LF Zion Rose (.315, 12, 63) or Eddie King Jr. (.362, 17, 60), CF Lucas Moore (.353, 5, 48), RF Garret Pike (.294, 4, 39) or King, DH Rose or Pike. Starting pitchers: RHP Patrick Forbes (4-2, 4.36 ERA), RHP Tucker Biven (3-0, 4.19), LHP Ethan Eberle (6-2, 4.34). Relievers: RHP Brennyn Cutts (3-1, 4.89), LHP Justin West (2-2, 6.12), LHP Wyatt Danilowicz (0-1, 2.25), RHP Jack Brown (5-5, 6.69), LHP Ty Starke (1-0, 8.50), RHP Jake Schweitzer (4-2, 2.15). MLB alumni: Adam Duvall, Will Smith, Adam Engel, Nick Solak, Chad Green, Sean Green, Reid Detmers, Tyler Fitzgerald, Kyle Funkhouser, Matt Koch. Short hops: Cardinals are 5-1 in the NCAA Tournament after entering regionals coming off losses in six of seven games. ... King is on a tear, having gone 12 for 22 (.545) with two homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in six tournament games. ...Moore leads the nation with 51 stolen bases and has been caught stealing just once. ... A thumb injury has forced Alicea, a switch hitter, to bat left-handed exclusively since the start of May. ... Biven moved from the closer's role to weekend starter in May. He has received a no-decision in all four starts but allowed just five earned runs over 17 1/3 innings. Quotable: 'We're going to Omaha to win it all. We're not just going there just to play.' — King. ___ Oregon State (47-14-1) Coach: Mitch Canham (223-101-1 in 6 years at Oregon State and overall). Road to Omaha: Won Corvallis Regional: lost to Saint Mary's 6-4, beat TCU 7-2, beat Saint Mary's 20-3, beat Southern California 14-1, beat Southern California 9-0. Won Corvallis Super Regional: beat Florida State 5-4 in 10 innings, lost to Florida State 3-1, beat Florida State 14-10. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0. Last CWS appearance: 2018. All-time record in CWS: 21-12 in 7 appearances (won national titles in 2006, 2007, 2018). Meet the Beavers: C Wilson Weber (.333, 12 HRs, 57 RBIs), 1B Jacob Krieg (.251, 13, 35), 2B AJ Singer (.309, 3, 39), SS Aiva Arquette (.354, 18, 65), 3B Trent Caraway (.270, 12, 47), LF Gavin Turley (.346, 19, 66), CF Canon Reeder (.303, 8, 35), RF Easton Talt (.265, 7, 35) or Carson McEntire (.263, 4, 10), DH Tyce Peterson (.282, 5, 19). Starting pitchers: RHP Dax Whitney (6-3, 3.66 ERA), LHP Ethan Kleinschmit (8-4, 3.54), RHP James DeCremer (3-0, 5.34). Relievers: LHP Nelson Keljo (3-2, 3.74), RHP AJ Hutcheson (3-0, 4.00), RHP Kellan Oakes (4-0, 3.60), RHP Laif Palmer (2-0, 2.12), RHP Wyatt Queen (3-1, 3.35), RHP Eric Segura (8-2, 4.76), RHP Zach Kmatz (2-0, 4.21). MLB alumni: Jacoby Ellsbury, Michael Conforto, Darwin Barney, Bob Forsch, Steven Kwan, Adley Rutschman, Ken Forsch, Trevor Larnach, Matthew Boyd, Drew Rasmussen. Short hops: The Beavers surpassed 100 home runs for the second consecutive season. The 103 are the second-most in program history, trailing the 2024 club's 118. ... Five home runs in Game 3 of the super regional were a postseason program record. ... Beavers are 5-1 in elimination games this postseason. ... Talt has walked 62 times, fifth-most in the country. Quotable: 'When we're all hitting, it's dangerous. No one can really compete with us.' — Caraway. ___ Murray State (44-15) Coach: Dan Skirka (209-150 in 7 seasons at Murray State and overall). Road to Omaha: Won Oxford Regional: beat Mississippi 9-6, beat Georgia Tech 13-11, lost to Mississippi 19-8, beat Mississippi 12-11. Won Durham Super Regional: lost to Duke 7-4, beat Duke 19-9, beat Duke 5-4. 2025 record against CWS teams: 0-0. Last CWS appearance: None. All-time record in CWS: 0-0. Meet the Racers: C Will Vierling (.316, 10 HRs, 52 RBIs), 1B Luke Mistone (.340, 4, 53), 2B Dom Decker (.361, 0, 48), SS Conner Cunningham (.257, 7, 38), 3B Carson Garner (.281, 17, 59), LF Dan Tauken (.257, 11, 76), CF Jonathan Hogart (.339, 22, 65), RF Dustin Mercer (.356, 0, 39), DH Nico Bermeo (.305, 1, 7). Starting pitchers: RHP Nic Schutte (8-4, 4.85 ERA), RHP Isaac Silva (9-2, 5.09), RHP Kane Elmy (6-2, 4.45). Relievers: RHP Reese Oakley (3-0, 5.64), LHP Dylan Zentko (4-1, 4.38), RHP Graham Kelham (4-1, 4.40, 9 saves), RHP Jacob Hustedde (2-0, 5.09), LHP Ethan Lyke (2-1, 4.64), RHP Jack Wajda (2-3, 5.56). MLB alumni: Jack Perconte, Kirk Rueter, Pat Jarvis. Short hops: Only the fourth No. 4 regional seed to reach the CWS, joining Fresno State (2008 national champion), Stony Brook (2012) and Oral Roberts (2023). ... This is Racers' fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2003. ... 44 wins are program record. ... 10.8 runs per game in NCAA Tournament ranks second. ... Hogart has hit a nation-leading eight of his 22 homers to lead off a game. ... Kelham has recorded four saves and one win over his last five appearances, and his nine saves are a program record. Quotable: 'Hopefully, it motivates everybody. This team could do it with 28 newcomers and three new coaches. Came together and hit their stride at the right time.' — Skirka. ___ UCLA (47-16) Coach: John Savage (723-479-2 in 21 seasons at UCLA; 811-563-3 in 24 seasons overall). Road to Omaha: Won Los Angeles Regional: beat Fresno State 19-4, beat Arizona State 11-5, beat UC Irvine 8-5. Won Los Angeles Super Regional: beat UTSA 5-2, beat UTSA 7-0. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 0-1. Last CWS appearance: 2013. All-time record in CWS: 9-9 in 5 appearances (won 2013 national title). Meet the Bruins: C Cashel Dugger (.276, 3 HRs, 25 RBIs), 1B Mulivai Levu (.319, 12, 85), 2B Phoenix Call (.258, 3, 31), SS Roch Cholowsky (.367, 23, 73), 3B Roman Martin (.320, 9, 58), LF Dean West (.315, 4, 40), CF Payton Brennan (.304, 6, 39), RF AJ Salgado (.313, 12, 52), DH Blake Balsz (.246, 1, 24). Starting pitchers: RHP Michael Barnett (12-1, 4.09), RHP Landon Stump (6-1, 4.54), RHP Wylan Moss (2-1, 2.47). Relievers: RHP Jack O'Connor (3-0, 1.80), RHP August Souza (0-0, 5.40), RHP Easton Hawk (1-1, 4.84), LHP Chris Grothues (4-1, 4.94), RHP Cal Randall (2-1, 3.09), LHP Ian May (7-3, 5.00). MLB alumni: Chris Chambliss, Todd Zeile, Jeff Conine, Bobby Grich, Chase Utley, Eric Karros, Brandon Crawford, Troy Glaus, Jackie Robinson, Don Slaught, Eric Byrnes, Shane Mack, Mike Magnante, Matt Young, Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer. Short hops: Bruins were Big Ten regular-season co-champions in their first season in the league. ... Their .372 batting average in the NCAA Tournament ranks first. ... UCLA more than doubled its win total from 2024, when it went 19-33. ... Cholowsky is Big Ten player of the year and defensive player of the year. ... Cholowsky's 23 home runs are the most by a Bruins player since Forrest Johnson in 2000. ... Bruins lead the nation with 63 double plays. Quotable: 'We're the only team that has gotten to play there. We have played in front of a big crowd there, too, which is useful. Just using that is going to help us.' — Cholowsky, on playing in the Big Ten Tournament at Charles Schwab Field last month. LSU (48-15) Coach: Jay Johnson (185-77 in 4 seasons at LSU; 502-249 in 13 seasons overall). Road to Omaha: Won Baton Rouge Regional: beat Little Rock 7-0, beat Dallas Baptist 12-0, lost to Little Rock 10-4, beat Little Rock 10-6. Won Baton Rouge Super Regional: beat West Virginia 16-9, beat West Virginia 12-5. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1. Last CWS appearance: 2023. All-time record in CWS: 46-29 in 19 appearances (won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023). Meet the Tigers: C Luis Hernandez (.272, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs), 1B Jared Jones (.328, 20, 70), 2B Daniel Dickinson (.312, 12, 48), SS Steven Milam (.290, 11, 55), 3B Michael Braswell III (.201, 2, 17) or Tanner Reaves (.266, 3, 12), LF Derek Curiel (.347, 7, 52), CF Chris Stanfield (.309, 1, 28), RF Josh Pearson (.297, 7, 32) or Jake Brown (.315, 8, 44), DH Ethan Frey (.340, 13, 49). Starting pitchers: LHP Kade Anderson (10-1, 3.58 ERA), RHP Anthony Eyanson (11-2, 2.74), RHP Jaden Noot (2-1, 4.26). Relievers: LHP DJ Primeaux (0-0, 3.86), RHP William Schmidt (7-0, 4.73), RHP Maverick Ritzy (0-0, 4.74), LHP Cooper Williams (0-1, 1.83), RHP Chase Shores (5-3, 5.24), RHP Casan Evans (4-1, 1.90), RHP Zac Cowan (3-3, 3.09), LHP Conner Ware (4-1, 5.48). MLB alumni: Joe Adcock, DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Hill, Albert Belle, Todd Walker, Ben McDonald, Alex Bregman, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Theriot, Russ Springer, Kevin Gausman, Jason Vargas, Warren Morris, Austin Nola, Paul Byrd, Aaron Nola, Mark Guthrie. Short hops: Tigers went 2-1 this season against Arkansas, their opening opponent. ... Tigers have second-highest all-time NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.708, 182-75). ... Anderson's 163 strikeouts are most among CWS pitchers and rank second nationally. Eyanson's 135 Ks rank third. ... Pitching staff is in top 10 nationally in ERA (3.80), hits allowed per nine innings (7.34) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.9). Quotable: 'Everyone just plays for each other. We know we're a team and if we don't get the job done, the guys behind us or the guy in front of us is going to protect us and get it done for us. Everyone genuinely cares about each other." — Eyanson. ___ Arkansas (48-13) Coach: Dave Van Horn (931-470 in 23 seasons at Arkansas; 1,516-710 in 38 seasons overall). Road to Omaha: Won Fayetteville Regional: beat North Dakota State 62, beat Creighton 12-1, beat Creighton 8-3. Won Fayetteville Super Regional: beat Tennessee 4-3, beat Tennessee 11-4. 2025 record vs. CWS teams: 1-2. Last CWS appearance: 2022. All-time record in CWS: 18-22 in 11 appearances. Meet the Razorbacks: C Ryder Helfrick (.320, 14 HRs, 36 RBIs), 1B Reese Robinett (.276, 2, 12), 2B Cam Kozeal (.346, 15, 62), SS Wehiwa Aloy (.348, 20, 64), 3B Brent Iredale (.289, 14, 56), LF Charles Davalan (.355, 14, 59), CF Justin Thomas Jr. (.278, 9, 35), RF Logan Maxwell (.360, 13, 35), DH Kuhio Aloy (.330, 13, 70). Starting pitchers: LHP Zach Root (8-5, 3.59 ERA), RHP Aiden Jimenez (4-1, 3.66), RHP Gage Wood (3-1, 5.02). Relievers: RHP Ben Bybee (3-0, 4.38), RHP Steele Eaves (1-0, 1.86), LHP Colin Fisher (3-0, 4.62), RHP Gabe Gaeckle (4-2, 4.76), LHP Parker Coil (3-0, 1.27), LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.92), RHP Will McEntire (1-0, 2.59), RHP Dylan Carter (6-0, 2.18). MLB alumni: Kevin McReynolds, Eric Hinske, Jeff King, Andrew Benintendi, Les Lancaster, Tom Pagnozzi, Ryne Stanek, Blake Parker, Drew Smyly, Cliff Lee, Dallas Keuchel, Colin Poche, Jalen Beeks, Robert Person, Tim Lollar. Short hops: No. 3 Razorbacks are the highest remaining national seed. ... Wehiwa Aloy is the SEC player of the year. His first name means 'prized one' in Hawaiian. He leads the team with 20 homers and is among seven Arkansas players with double-digit homers. ... Hogs' 123 homers are program record and fifth in the country. ... Arkansas has had at least one player selected in each of the past 50 MLB drafts dating back to 1975.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Bill Belichick dismisses ‘outside noise' surrounding UNC football: ‘We've always dealt with that'
Bill Belichick is unbothered by the 'outside noise' that has surrounded his program in his first few months as North Carolina's coach, he said Tuesday. 'Is there noise out there? We've always dealt with that. Really, our job is to build a football team and help build the team and also build their individual careers,' Belichick said in his first news conference since March 5. Advertisement Belichick, 73, chuckled when he was asked if his girlfriend, 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, would be on the sidelines for Tar Heels games this fall. 'No, she doesn't have any role in the UNC football program. But again, there's been noise out there about a lot of different things. Our focus is day to day, getting better, stacking good days together.' Hudson and Belichick's relationship has been the subject of conversation since Belichick's arrival, intensifying after Hudson went viral this spring for repeatedly interrupting a CBS News interview promoting Belichick's new book, which was released on May 6. 'Some of the noise that's out there and the book and stuff like that, it is what it is. That's a personal venture I entered into when I wasn't in coaching last year,' Belichick said. 'Hopefully, (the book) will be a big purchase on Father's Day.' In December, Belichick asked that Hudson be copied on emails sent to Belichick. North Carolina's athletic communications staff was in the middle of restructuring and Hudson no longer receives those emails. The Athletic reported in April that Hudson's requests to be heavily involved in the production of NFL Films' Hard Knocks — a documentary featuring Belichick's transition into college football — were 'instrumental' in NFL Films' decision to stop pursuing the project. Four UNC players also spoke to reporters Tuesday, marking the first time Belichick's players have been made available to the media since his arrival in December. Offensive lineman Christo Kelly, an incoming transfer from Holy Cross, said the discussion about Belichick and Hudson hasn't affected the team, echoing what some former players told The Athletic this spring. 'Outside noise is a part of playing college football. That just comes with the territory. It doesn't really have any effect on us or the day to day,' Kelly said. 'We're focused on competing and getting better and stacking those days. Everything else is just noise. We're worried about keeping the main thing the main thing.' North Carolina's season kicks off on Sept. 1 when the Tar Heels host TCU.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Pennsylvania 2026 star offensive tackle Grayson McKeogh has Notre Dame as a finalist
Pennsylvania 2026 star offensive tackle Grayson McKeogh has Notre Dame as a finalist Notre Dame is one of three finalists for four-star Class of 2026 product Grayson McKeogh, but the Fighting Irish will have a tough act to beat after the offensive tackle enjoyed his visit to Penn State. The 6-foot-7, 275-pounder from La Salle College (Glenside, PA) will visit Notre Dame June 13-15 before heading to Texas June 20-22. It's not very often Texas recruits a Pennsylvania product either, which speaks to how impressive the offensive lineman has been. It's been quite the rise for McKeogh, who had never played on the offensive line for the Explorers until head coach Brett Gordon took over the program before his junior season. Now, the former defensive end is one of the most desirable left tackles in the country and the seventh-best prospect in his state, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. His visit to State College reportedly went very well, so it's going to be difficult for the Fighting Irish to woo the star tackle, who could stay in-state and play for a strong Big Ten program. Additionally, Texas will get the chance to make one final impression. Can the Longhorns win this tight battle? McKeogh plans to make his decision July 1. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
