Women’s basketball falls short in comeback effort against No. 15 North Carolina

Stanford women’s basketball (11-10, 3-7 ACC) put up a relentless fight against No. 15 North Carolina (20-4, 8-3 ACC) but fell just short in a 69-67 thriller at Maples Pavilion Sunday afternoon. Despite a strong defensive effort in the second half, holding the Tar Heels to just 10 points in the final frame, the Cardinal couldn’t overcome UNC’s late-game execution.

Senior guard Elena Bosgana made an early jumper to put Stanford up. Stanford was able to establish an early edge thanks to sophomore guard Chloe Clardy who nailed an early three-pointer, which was hard to come by in Stanford’s last game. The offense, however, sputtered after the strong start, allowing UNC to capitalize on three straight Stanford turnovers. Stanford’s defense held firm in the early going, but UNC’s Lexi Donarski hit a late jumper to push the Tar Heels ahead 20-12 by the end of the first quarter.

Stanford’s offensive struggles continued in the second quarter, limiting its second-chance opportunities. The Cardinal shot just 35.5% from the field in the first half, struggling to generate high-percentage looks. Clardy remained a bright spot, using her quick decision-making to earn trips to the free-throw line and keep the Cardinal within reach. Sophomore forward Nunu Agara continued to be a force on the boards, collecting 14 rebounds in the afternoon contest. But Stanford’s reliance on difficult outside shots, including several highly contested threes, allowed the Tar Heels to maintain control. A strong and-one finish from senior forward Brooke Demetre late in the first half provided a needed boost, but UNC responded with back-to-back three-pointers, extending its halftime advantage to 39-32.

Coming out of the break, freshman guard Shay Ijiwoye’s tenacious on-ball defense was key in slowing down the Tar Heels’ perimeter attack, while Agara’s rebounding continued to provide Stanford extra possessions. Stanford, however, was not able to accumulate enough offensive plays to get within striking distance. Bosgana’s three-pointer rekindled the home fans, and Clardy continued to drive inside for layups, but UNC had an answer for every offensive push by the Cardinal. UNC’s Alyssa Ustby, who finished with 16 points, came through with a series of clutch baskets to preserve the Tar Heels’ advantage.

In the fourth quarter, while the game was bouncing back and forth, Bosgana came through with a key three-pointer that reduced UNC’s lead to three. Up-and-coming freshman center Kennedy Umeh put in a tip shot while being fouled and was able to finish the three-point play to tie the game 62-62 with 3:52 left.

“I’m really excited about Kennedy Umeh and the incredible progress that she’s made,” said head coach Kate Paye. “When I look [at the box score], she had eight points, four rebounds, and her great defense inside. That’s something that we didn’t have earlier in conference play, and that’s a testament to Kennedy and her work ethic.”

After UNC had reestablished their lead, Stanford had a chance to tie the game when Agara called a timeout after grabbing a crucial rebound with less than a minute remaining. On the last possession, however, Clardy was forced to take a difficult shot, Agara’s putback attempt was unsuccessful and UNC managed to escape with the win as the time ran out.

Despite the loss, Stanford had a promising showing. Agara finished with a double-double, tallying a game-high 22 points to go with her 14 rebounds. Clardy scored 15 points, and Demetre added nine points.

Up next, the Cardinal will head to Indiana for a Thursday night matchup against Notre Dame. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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