- Donarski scores season-high 20 points with decisive 4th-quarter 3-pointer
- UNC erases 66-60 deficit with 19-3 closing run
- Boston College ties season record with 12 three-pointers
- Greensboro-hosted tournament marks 21st consecutive ACC event in North Carolina
Fourteenth-ranked North Carolina cemented its ACC Tournament legacy Thursday with a 78-71 victory over Boston College, securing its third quarterfinal berth since 2021. The Tar Heels (26-6) demonstrated championship resilience despite facing a 66-60 deficit late in the fourth quarter, unleashing a decisive 19-3 run sparked by Alyssa Ustby's interior dominance.
Lexi Donarski delivered her finest performance since November, drilling a critical three-pointer at 1:44 that extended UNC's lead to 73-66. The Iowa State transfer complemented her scoring with defensive intensity, forcing two turnovers during the game-changing sequence. When our backs are against the wall, we trust our conditioning and preparation,Donarski remarked postgame.
Boston College (16-17) nearly pulled off the upset behind Tatum Greene's sharpshooting (18 points, 4/8 from three). The Eagles converted 46% of three-point attempts, exploiting UNC's perimeter defense through clever off-ball screens. However, their offense stalled in critical moments, missing seven of eight field goals during UNC's closing surge.
The victory sets up a high-stakes rematch against No. 22 Florida State, who edged UNC 86-84 in January on Ta’niya Latson's buzzer-beater. Historical data suggests tournament success correlates with late-game execution – teams winning quarterfinals have reached 83% of ACC Championship games since 2015.
Regional Impact: Greensboro's continued hosting of ACC events generates $17.8M annual economic impact according to city tourism data. Local hotels reported 92% occupancy rates as 12,000+ fans attended Thursday's sessions.
Strategic Insight: UNC's ability to win paint battles (38-24 advantage) offset BC's three-point barrage, illustrating modern basketball's risk/reward dynamics. Teams shooting 40%+ from deep only win 61% of games when outrebounded by 10+ (per NCAA analytics).
With Indya Nivar contributing 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, UNC showcased the balanced scoring that's key in March. The Tar Heels' 12-2 record in games decided by single digits suggests psychological preparedness for Friday's showdown against Florida State's top-20 defense.