2024-25 Women's Basketball Roster - University of North Carolina Athletics
I see two possible outcomes for tomorrow's game against #15 North Carolina. The Tar Heels are predominantly a defensive team that has held their opponents to 60 points or less in 17 of their 18 wins this season. When an opponent has scored 69 points or more, they have defeated UNC four consecutive times. Cal has 18 victories, too, and has tallied 70 or more points in 15 of those games. The Bears have also prevailed in three home games when they only scored 63, 69 & 69. Bottomline: these are both top twenty ranked teams that triumph when they are able to play their respective type of game and impose their will on the opposition.
I can see the possibility of the Tar Heel's defense shutting down the Bear's offense and winning. I can also envision another offensive explosion in Berkeley to remain undefeated at home. If Cal is able to register 70 points or more against UNC, there's a high probability of an upset. My prediction for this game is that the Bears get their offense in gear and prevail over the Tar Heels, 77-72. North Carolina has not visited the Bay Area since 2013 and I'm hoping that Cal's home court advantage might be a bit larger than normal.
University of North Carolina Athletics
The matchups are formidable for the players on each team. I have witnessed North Carolina in two games, and I have seen the strengths of their key players. I will review each player and comment on their probable Cal counterpart on Thursday night.
Their MVP is a fifth-year grad student, Alyssa Ustby. She is on target to become the top career rebounder in UNC history. She is their best all-around player. Ustby is a 6-1 PF who averages close to a double-double. Alyssa is their top scorer w/ 11.4 points and top rebounder w/ 9.5 boards per game. As a point forward, she leads her team in assists with 74 (3.4/g) and blocked shots (22). The Tar Heel star is second in steals with 30!
This last stat is worrisome because I think that her matchup will be Marta Suarez. Both of these power forwards have a tendency to turn the ball over.
North Carolina's most intriguing player to watch is their 6-3 senior center, Maria Gakdeng. She has extremely long arms and likely stands to a height of 6-6. I watched her operate vs Pitt's star 6-4 post and that player was not effective inside. Maria is the #2 offensive threat with 11.1 points per contest. She is also second in rebounds with 6.5 plus second in blocks w/21. Gakdeng hits 64.5% of her field goal attempts. Cal's 6-3 senior post, Michelle Onyiah, can really jump so it will critical whether she can score & rebound inside without getting into foul trouble. Maybe she can get Gakdeng into foul trouble instead.
Both teams possess strong three-point shooters. Cal hits 9.4 and UNC makes 8.2 per game. Another interesting battle should be the two team's deadliest bombers: Ioanna Krimili vs Lexi Donarski. Donarski is also a fifth-year grad student. She is a 6-0 SG who has 53 treys made on the season. Her accuracy is 40.8%. Lexi is her team's third double-digit scorer, averaging 10.0 ppg.
Both teams are led by their point guards. North Carolina starts 5-10 junior, Indya Nivar. This McDonald's AA started her career at Stanford but transferred back home after one season. Nivar is the Tar Heel's top defender with 43 steals. She contributes 8.4 points to the offense and averages 2.32 assists per game. Cal's PG is Kayla Williams who is tops in steals with 31.
The other starter for the Tar Heels is 5-7 soph combo guard, Reniya Kelly. She leads the guards in assists with 45 and is tied for third in steals (23). Kelly also shoots 40% from deep and is third on the Tar Heels w/ 23 three-point baskets. The Bears will likely assign Lulu Twidale to matchup w/ her. Reniya adds 8.4 points per game.
Their freshman surprise is 5-9 SG Lanie Grant. This 17-year-old enrolled early and is second in treys with 29. Grant averages 7.2 ppg and is usually the first guard off of the bench. The other guard that sees regular action is a fifth-year grad student, Grace Townsend. She is 5-5 and an excellent ball-handler with 53 assists compared to only 33 TOs. She has 20 steals and averages 4.0 points.
North Carolina has two tall freshmen post players in Blanca Thomas (6-5) & Ciera Toomey (6-4). These two receive 13-14 minutes each per game of PT.
In summary, Cal will have to play a solid overall game to upset UNC. Remember Duke was upset by the Tar Heels, 53-46. North Carolina forces 18.6 turnovers per game so the Bears must take care of the ball to fulfill my prediction. GO BEARS!
I see two possible outcomes for tomorrow's game against #15 North Carolina. The Tar Heels are predominantly a defensive team that has held their opponents to 60 points or less in 17 of their 18 wins this season. When an opponent has scored 69 points or more, they have defeated UNC four consecutive times. Cal has 18 victories, too, and has tallied 70 or more points in 15 of those games. The Bears have also prevailed in three home games when they only scored 63, 69 & 69. Bottomline: these are both top twenty ranked teams that triumph when they are able to play their respective type of game and impose their will on the opposition.
I can see the possibility of the Tar Heel's defense shutting down the Bear's offense and winning. I can also envision another offensive explosion in Berkeley to remain undefeated at home. If Cal is able to register 70 points or more against UNC, there's a high probability of an upset. My prediction for this game is that the Bears get their offense in gear and prevail over the Tar Heels, 77-72. North Carolina has not visited the Bay Area since 2013 and I'm hoping that Cal's home court advantage might be a bit larger than normal.
University of North Carolina Athletics
The matchups are formidable for the players on each team. I have witnessed North Carolina in two games, and I have seen the strengths of their key players. I will review each player and comment on their probable Cal counterpart on Thursday night.
Their MVP is a fifth-year grad student, Alyssa Ustby. She is on target to become the top career rebounder in UNC history. She is their best all-around player. Ustby is a 6-1 PF who averages close to a double-double. Alyssa is their top scorer w/ 11.4 points and top rebounder w/ 9.5 boards per game. As a point forward, she leads her team in assists with 74 (3.4/g) and blocked shots (22). The Tar Heel star is second in steals with 30!
This last stat is worrisome because I think that her matchup will be Marta Suarez. Both of these power forwards have a tendency to turn the ball over.
North Carolina's most intriguing player to watch is their 6-3 senior center, Maria Gakdeng. She has extremely long arms and likely stands to a height of 6-6. I watched her operate vs Pitt's star 6-4 post and that player was not effective inside. Maria is the #2 offensive threat with 11.1 points per contest. She is also second in rebounds with 6.5 plus second in blocks w/21. Gakdeng hits 64.5% of her field goal attempts. Cal's 6-3 senior post, Michelle Onyiah, can really jump so it will critical whether she can score & rebound inside without getting into foul trouble. Maybe she can get Gakdeng into foul trouble instead.
Both teams possess strong three-point shooters. Cal hits 9.4 and UNC makes 8.2 per game. Another interesting battle should be the two team's deadliest bombers: Ioanna Krimili vs Lexi Donarski. Donarski is also a fifth-year grad student. She is a 6-0 SG who has 53 treys made on the season. Her accuracy is 40.8%. Lexi is her team's third double-digit scorer, averaging 10.0 ppg.
Both teams are led by their point guards. North Carolina starts 5-10 junior, Indya Nivar. This McDonald's AA started her career at Stanford but transferred back home after one season. Nivar is the Tar Heel's top defender with 43 steals. She contributes 8.4 points to the offense and averages 2.32 assists per game. Cal's PG is Kayla Williams who is tops in steals with 31.
The other starter for the Tar Heels is 5-7 soph combo guard, Reniya Kelly. She leads the guards in assists with 45 and is tied for third in steals (23). Kelly also shoots 40% from deep and is third on the Tar Heels w/ 23 three-point baskets. The Bears will likely assign Lulu Twidale to matchup w/ her. Reniya adds 8.4 points per game.
Their freshman surprise is 5-9 SG Lanie Grant. This 17-year-old enrolled early and is second in treys with 29. Grant averages 7.2 ppg and is usually the first guard off of the bench. The other guard that sees regular action is a fifth-year grad student, Grace Townsend. She is 5-5 and an excellent ball-handler with 53 assists compared to only 33 TOs. She has 20 steals and averages 4.0 points.
North Carolina has two tall freshmen post players in Blanca Thomas (6-5) & Ciera Toomey (6-4). These two receive 13-14 minutes each per game of PT.
In summary, Cal will have to play a solid overall game to upset UNC. Remember Duke was upset by the Tar Heels, 53-46. North Carolina forces 18.6 turnovers per game so the Bears must take care of the ball to fulfill my prediction. GO BEARS!
