North Carolina, the No. 8 seed, secured a hard-fought 59-56 victory over No. 9 seed Michigan State to kick off their NCAA Tournament campaign. Deja Kelly contributed 13 points for North Carolina, while Maria Gakdeng and Alyssa Ustby delivered standout performances with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and 16 points and 17 rebounds, respectively.
The Tar Heels appeared to have the game under control, establishing a 16-point lead early on and maintaining a 54-42 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. However, Michigan State mounted a late surge, narrowing the gap to 57-56 following a crucial 3-pointer by Theryn Hallock with 5.4 seconds left.
Despite the late scare, North Carolina managed to hold on for the win. Kelly's composure at the free-throw line proved pivotal, ensuring the Tar Heels clinched their third consecutive opening NCAA Tournament victory.
Michigan State, under first-year head coach Robyn Fralick, displayed resilience in their comeback bid. The Spartans' key players, Julia Ayrault and Moira Joiner, faced foul trouble early on, but the team fought back to make it a competitive contest.
North Carolina will now advance to face the winner of the matchup between top-seeded South Carolina and 16th-seeded Presbyterian. South Carolina, the undefeated No. 1 overall seed, is set to host the next game after Presbyterian's loss earlier in the season on the same court.
Looking ahead, North Carolina is gearing up for a likely showdown against South Carolina on Sunday. The Tar Heels will seek redemption after a close defeat to the Gamecocks in the ACC/SEC Challenge back in November.
As the NCAA Tournament action unfolds, fans can follow the latest updates and brackets on the official AP March Madness bracket page: AP March Madness bracket. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of all the tournament excitement: March Madness coverage.
