North Carolina Tar Heels vs Miami Hurricanes
Spearman helps lead Miami women to 60-59 win over North Carolina in ACC Tournament
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- — Lazaria Spearman had 12 points and 10 rebounds and scored the go-ahead points as ninth-seeded Miami erased a 14-point deficit to beat eighth-seeded North Carolina 60-59 on Thursday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
The Hurricanes (19-11) will play top seed and No. 11-ranked Virginia Tech in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Shayeann Day-Wilson scored 13 points with five assists, Latasha Lattimore had 12 points and Ja’Leah Williams 11, including three 3-pointers for Miami.
Deja Kelly scored 15 points, though on just 6-of-20 shooting, and grabbed nine rebounds for the Tar Heels (19-12). Alyssa Ustby also scored 15 points and Lexi Donarski added 12.
Spearman scored on consecutive follows during a 10-0 run to give Miami the lead with 2:40 to go — its first lead since the opening minutes. Lattimore added a three-point play during which Spearman was called for an intentional foul for unnecessary contact. Donarski converted the awarded free throws and Kelly got the Tar Heels within a point on a drive with 1:54 left.
Neither team scored again, both turning the ball over twice, Spearman missing two free throws and Kelly missing two shots, including a final one in traffic that didn’t reach the rim at the buzzer.
Trailing by seven at halftime, Miami used a 9-1 run midway through the third quarter to catch the Tar Heels before Kelly's bucket in the last minute gave UNC a 47-45 edge heading into the fourth quarter that the Tar Heels extended to six with eight minutes to go.
After shooting 50% in the first half, UNC finished at 36%, the same as the Hurricanes. Miami outrebounded the Tar Heels 41-32, including 13-7 edge on the offensive glass for a 16-5 advantage on second-chance points. The Miami bench outscored UNC's 15-3.
UNC led 37-30 at halftime behind 11 points and eight rebounds from Kelly. The Tar Heels led 20-13 after one quarter and then used an 11-2 run early in the second to extend its lead to 14. Williams took an inbounds pass with 5.5 seconds remaining and nearly fell dribbling through defenders before heaving a near-halfcourt shot that went in to get Miami within seven.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Eric Brewton
- Dee Kantner
- Karen Preato
2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 1-0 | - | 9-1 |
| Notre Dame | 1-0 | - | 7-2 |
| Louisville | 1-0 | - | 9-3 |
| Virginia | 1-0 | - | 8-3 |
| Duke | 1-0 | - | 4-6 |
| North Carolina | 0-0 | 0.5 | 9-2 |
| Wake Forest | 0-0 | 0.5 | 9-2 |
| Stanford | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-2 |
| California | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-3 |
| Miami | 0-0 | 0.5 | 6-3 |
| NC State | 0-0 | 0.5 | 6-4 |
| Pittsburgh | 0-0 | 0.5 | 6-5 |
| Georgia Tech | 0-0 | 0.5 | 4-7 |
| Virginia Tech | 0-1 | 1 | 8-3 |
| Clemson | 0-1 | 1 | 6-4 |
| SMU | 0-1 | 1 | 5-6 |
| Florida State | 0-1 | 1 | 4-7 |
| Boston College | 0-1 | 1 | 4-9 |

