CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a game that had every reason to be over by halftime, the Virginia women’s basketball team refused to let that script play out like a near full-capacity Carmichael Arena had expected. Down by as many as 18 points on the road against No. 8 North Carolina, the Cavaliers clawed their way back, outscoring the Tar Heels by 14 in the second half to cap off the regular season with a statement 78-75 win.
“This was just a complete rally, complete team effort,” UVA coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said outside the locker room, still buzzing from the postgame celebration. “We started executing, especially out of timeouts and down the stretch, and we were able to close the gap and then get over the hump.”
In the end, it was the Cavaliers’ first win at UNC since January 2001. It also marked the first victory against a ranked team for this year’s team.
A First Half To Forget
If Virginia (16-14, 8-10 ACC) wanted to prove it could compete at the highest level, the opening half wasn’t the message the Hoos hoped to send. They struggled to find rhythm against a UNC (25-6, 13-5 ACC) defense that suffocated passing lanes and controlled the glass.
UVA’s early shooting struggles, particularly from the 3-point range, only made matters worse, as open looks refused to fall and transition opportunities were rare. They hit just 41.4% overall in the opening half with a particularly rough 33.3% in the second quarter. The visitors made just 3 of 10 triples in the first half. Surprisingly, this included a scoreless half from Kymora Johnson, though she did log 7 assists.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels dictated the pace, spread the floor with crisp ball movement and capitalized on Virginia miscues. By halftime, the Cavaliers trailed 41-30 and with ESPN analytics giving them just an 8.1% chance to win at tipoff, the outlook wasn’t promising.
A Second-Half Transformation
But then, something changed. From the opening possession of the third quarter, the Cavaliers were nearly unrecognizable.
They tightened up their defense, opting for a 2-3 zone that dared UNC to beat them from deep. With Carolina shooting just 22% from the 3-point range but having outscored UVA 22-14 in the paint during the first half, Virginia made the decision to pack the lane, cut off easy scoring routes, and force the Tar Heels into the very shots that weren’t falling.
Leading the charge was Johnson, who overcame the scoreless first half to come alive in the second. She orchestrated the offense with precision and ended up just one rebound shy of securing her second triple-double. Johnson’s final line landed at 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists with 5 steals too.
“We switched up our defense because they were picking us apart,” Coach Mox said. “And then we just attacked.”
Edessa Noyan was instrumental in the third-quarter surge, draining 2 3’s within a span of 90 seconds midway through the period to bring the deficit to just four. She finished with 16 points on 4-6 shooting from downtown. Those triples were part of a theme for the third as UVA knocked down 6 of 8 attempts (75.0%) to double the first half production from beyond the arc. Paris Clark had 2 3’s to match Noyan, while Johnson and Latasha Lattimore added 1 each.
By the time the quarter ended, Virginia remained within striking distance, down 60-56.
Composure In The Final Stretch
With momentum shifting, the Hoos found themselves in a back-and-forth battle in the final minutes. The game hung in the balance as key players navigated foul trouble - both Lattimore and Noyan picked up their fourth fouls early in the fourth quarter. But the Cavaliers didn’t waver.
A critical sequence saw Johnson tip a pass for a steal and assist Noyan for a deep 3-pointer. On the next possession, Johnson calmly drilled a jumper to bring UVA within three. Lattimore followed up with a smooth fake and drive to the basket with 2:15 to go, cutting UNC’s lead to just one at 70-71. The teams traded baskets to set up a tense final minute.
Two Johnson free throws gave the Hoos a 74-73 lead, but Carolina’s Indya Nivar answered with a bucket to flip the hosts back in front with 19 seconds left. With 19 seconds left, Clark stepped to the free-throw line and knocked down both shots, putting Virginia ahead. A Lattimore block on the other end sealed UNC’s fate, and Johnson iced the game with two more free throws.
The Cavaliers had done it, silencing the home crowd and securing their biggest road win of the season.
Building Momentum For March
With the ACC Tournament looming, this win not only boosts Virginia’s confidence but provides a final regular season record of 16-14. After a rough stretch saw the team lose seven of nine games in late January and early February, UVA found a way to win four of its last five games overall.
“How good we can be - that’s what I want them to take from this,” Coach Mox said. “This is a top-10 team, we’re on the road, in their gym, and we just gotta continue to ride that confidence. We’re coming together at the right time.”
As the Cavaliers head to Greensboro for the ACC Tournament, they have proven that they can weather adversity, rally when it matters, and take down one of the nation’s best. The comeback against UNC wasn’t just a win - it was a potential warning to the rest of the conference with tournament play up next.
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