Chapel Hill, NC – The No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers (25-8) struggled offensively, shooting just 24.1% from the field, as they were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by third-seeded North Carolina (29-7) with a 58-47 loss on Monday night.
West Virginia got off to a slow start, failing to score for the first three minutes while North Carolina jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Senior forward Kyah Watson finally got the Mountaineers on the board with a contested layup along the left baseline. The Tar Heels extended their lead to eight before West Virginia responded with an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the first quarter to tie the game at 12.
The Mountaineers carried their momentum into the second quarter as junior guard Jordan Harrison knocked down a three-pointer to give them their first lead at 15-12. However, North Carolina reclaimed the lead after hitting its first two field goals of the quarter. Meanwhile, West Virginia endured a seven-minute scoring drought before senior forward Kylee Blacksten fought inside for a tough bucket to trim the deficit to 19-18 with 2:37 left in the half. The Tar Heels regained control with a corner three from freshman guard Lanie Grant and a fadeaway jumper from senior forward Alyssa Ustby, pushing their lead to 24-18.
Junior guard Sydney Shaw provided a spark for the Mountaineers, sinking three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt to bring them within three points at halftime, 24-21.
Second Half Struggles
West Virginia and North Carolina exchanged early baskets in the third quarter, but the Tar Heels capitalized on offensive rebounds and free throws to create separation. Three consecutive fouls, including two on senior guard JJ Quinerly, put UNC in the bonus, and senior guard Lexi Donarski converted both free throws to give the Tar Heels a 32-25 lead with 6:43 left in the period.
The Mountaineers responded with a strong defensive effort, sparking a 10-1 run led by Sydney Woodley’s four points and contributions from Watson and Harrison. This surge gave West Virginia a 35-33 lead with 3:02 remaining in the quarter. However, North Carolina quickly answered with a 9-0 run, highlighted by a Donarski three-pointer, to reclaim a 42-35 advantage heading into the final period.
Closing Moments
West Virginia’s offensive struggles continued in the fourth quarter, as they were held scoreless for the first 3:35 while North Carolina stretched its lead to 11. A pair of free throws from Quinerly briefly cut the deficit to nine, but the Mountaineers failed to make a field goal until Shaw hit a three-pointer with just 39 seconds remaining. By then, the Tar Heels had secured their 58-47 victory, bringing West Virginia’s tournament run to an end.
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